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Action Against Hunger-USA

CharityWatch report issued
October 2023

 
CharityWatch Grade
 

Contact Information

Action Against Hunger-USA
One Whitehall Street
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10004

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

To save lives by preventing, detecting, and treating under-nutrition, particularly during and after disasters and conflicts. From crisis to sustainability, tackles the direct and underlying causes of hunger through integrated, holistic solutions.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2021

*Why a Question Mark Rating?

CharityWatch currently has concerns about this organization and/or is unable to provide complete rating information due to the organization's nondisclosure of financial information. Please see the Analysts' Notes section for a more detailed explanation.


Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
Action Against Hunger-USA
does not meet governance benchmarks.
 
Action Against Hunger-USA
does not meet transparency benchmarks.

CharityWatch Governance Concerns

See Analysts' Notes for Explanation
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Charles Owubah CEO $319,251
2 Maria Fort Director of People & Strategy $236,333
3 Gary Camus CFO $226,151
1
Name: Charles Owubah
Title: CEO
Compensation: $319,251
2
Name: Maria Fort
Title: Director of People & Strategy
Compensation: $236,333
3
Name: Gary Camus
Title: CFO
Compensation: $226,151

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch is unable to provide a letter grade rating of Action Against Hunger USA at this time due to questions we have related to the organization's reporting of $4,510,951 of "Program Support" expenses in its audited financial statements for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. For this reason, we have issued Action Against Hunger USA a "?" rating for its fiscal year-ended 12/31/2021. Specifically, we asked the charity if these expenses are related to the functional expense category of program expense, management and general expense, and/or fundraising expense, given that they are broken out into a separate column in its audited financial statements. 

CharityWatch sent inquiries to Action Against Hunger USA's CFO via email on 10/10/2023, and again via U.S. mail on 10/11/2023, and has not received a response as of the date of this update on 10/18/2023.  If Action Against Hunger USA responds to CharityWatch's questions at a future date, we will update its rating at that time.

According to the Action Against Hunger - USA (AAH-USA) audit of December 31, 2021 (Note 10, In-Kind Contributions), AAH-USA received in-kind contributions in 2021 on which it placed a total value of $9,334,526. Of this total, $8,137,630 consisted of food inventory, according to the AAH-USA 2021 tax filing (IRS Form 990, Schedule M).

[Note: CharityWatch generally excludes the value of in-kind (non-cash) donations of goods and services from its calculations of Program % and Cost to Raise $100. More information on how grades are calculated and the treatment of in-kind donations can be found on the Our Process page.]

According to the Against Hunger - USA audit of December 31, 2021 (Note 5, Note Payable):

"In April, 2020 Action Against Hunger - USA received loan proceeds in the amount of $1,050,000 under the Paycheck Protection Program. The promissory note called for monthly principal and interest payments amortized over the term of the promissory note with a deferral of payments for the first seven months.

"Action Against Hunger - USA used the loan proceeds for purposes consistent with the Paycheck Protection Program and applied for forgiveness after completing the 24-week period stipulated by the terms of the loan.

"Action Against Hunger - USA received full forgiveness from the SBA [Small Business Administration] in August 2021. Accordingly, Action Against Hunger - USA has recorded revenue from forgiveness of debt in the amount of $1,050,000 in the accompanying [audited] Statement of Activities."

According to the Action Against Hunger - USA audit of December 31, 2021 (Note 3, Action Against Hunger Network):

"Action Against Hunger - USA is a member of a network that includes four other international non-governmental organizations headquartered in Paris, Madrid, London and Toronto. The network collaborates to accomplish a worldwide shared mission. Action Against Hunger - USA and the four other members of the network provide inter-organizational program, human resources and logistic support on behalf of their related overseas programs. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, Action Against Hunger - USA has recorded a net balance due to the network of $4,298,719 and $3,090,663, respectively."