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Top Rated

CARE USA

CharityWatch report issued
July 2020

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
90%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$13
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

CARE USA
151 Ellis St., NE
Atlanta, GA 30303-2440

Other Names

CARE
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.care.org

Stated Mission

Works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. Delivers emergency relief and long-term international development programs.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2019

Program Percentage: 90%

The percentage of CARE USA's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$582,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $13

How many dollars CARE USA spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$238,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

25% to 49%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere IRS Form 990 13-1685039
CARE USA & Subsidiaries Audited Consolidated Financial Statements Multiple
Entity: Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 13-1685039
Entity: CARE USA & Subsidiaries
Document Type: Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple

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.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
CARE USA
meets governance benchmarks.
 
CARE USA
meets transparency benchmarks.
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 Michelle Nunn President/CEO $445,340
2 Heather A. Higginbottom Past COO $370,505
3 Robert M. Phillips III Past Chief Digital Officer $312,641
1
Name: Michelle Nunn
Title: President/CEO
Compensation: $445,340
2
Name: Heather A. Higginbottom
Title: Past COO
Compensation: $370,505
3
Name: Robert M. Phillips III
Title: Past Chief Digital Officer
Compensation: $312,641

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's rating of CARE USA is based on the financial activities of the 501(c)(3) public charity entity (tax ID #13-1685039).


According to the CARE USA consolidated audit of June 30, 2019 (Note 1 re: Structure and Related Parties):

"CARE USA is a member of CARE International, an organization that coordinates various agreed upon functions and activities common across the membership, including program activities in certain cases. In the regular course of its operations, CARE USA receives and provides funding through grants and other contributions to and from CARE International and member organizations..."


CharityWatch's rating of CARE USA does not include the financial activities of CARE Action Now, "a related but separate 501(c)4 organization operating exclusively for the purpose of educating the public and influencing legislative, executive, and judiciary policy-makers on the appropriate and sustainable provision of development and humanitarian assistance to underprivileged people," according to the CARE USA fiscal 2019 consolidated audit (Note 16). Also not included in the rating are CARE USA's non-exempt subsidiaries, Access Africa Fund, LLC and CARE Enterprises, Inc. "CARE USA makes up more than 99% of the net assets in the accompanying [audited] consolidated balance sheets," according to the CARE USA fiscal 2019 consolidated audit (Note 2).


CharityWatch separates the ratings for 501(c)(3) & 501(c)(4) organizations, even when they are included together in a consolidated audit, due to their differing tax treatments by the IRS. For more information on this topic, please see our sections on Types of Non-Profits, Tax Status, and Treatment of Related Organizations, which can be found on the Our Process page.

According to the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, CARE received donated in-kind goods on which it placed a value of approximately $23.0 million, including approximately $22.0 million in donated food inventory (IRS Form 990, Schedule M).

In addition, according to the CARE USA consolidated audit of June 30, 2019 (Note 2 re: Nonfood Gifts-in-Kind): "CARE USA recognized contributions totaling $6.0 million...for public service announcements and donated professional services..." in fiscal 2019.

[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 CARE USA consolidated audit of June 30, 2019 (Note 14, Commitments and Other Matters):

"CARE USA maintained performance guarantees totaling $7.0 million and $8.5 million for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, on behalf of CARE Country offices, other CI [CARE International] members or various restricted grants. All guarantees are foreign currency denominated and therefore subject to fluctuations in USD equivalent value. Expiration or cancellation of each guarantee is contingent upon fulfilment [sic] of the underlying terms associated with the guarantee.

"CARE USA has committed to provide funding to CARE Peru in the aggregate amount of $24 million. This commitment was to be paid from fiscal years 2012 through 2034 in accordance with CARE USA and CARE Peru framework agreement payment terms. The commitment is conditional upon CARE Peru meeting agreed-upon program expenditures, which has not occurred to date. CARE USA made cumulative contributions to CARE Peru of $9.0 million and $8.0 million respectively, as of June 30, 2019 and 2018.

"CARE USA provided a loan to the CARE International Revolving Fund in the amount of $1.5 million and $1.6 million as of June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. It is used by CARE International to advance money to other members."

According to the CARE USA consolidated audit of June 30, 2019 (Note 15, Contingencies):

"The Government of Bolivia has served CARE USA with tax claims of approximately $21.8 million for the commercial sale and distribution of commodities during the calendar years 2002 – 2007. CARE USA has filed lawsuits in Bolivia contesting the validity of these claims. A lower court ruled in CARE USA's favor on two lawsuits. The Supreme Court in Bolivia, the highest court, affirmed one of the lower court decisions in July 2016 and sent the other case back to the lower court. Although CARE USA no longer has operations in Bolivia, the outcome of this matter is currently not determinable, and management is monitoring the situation closely. No definitive estimate can be made of the potential liability."

According to the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, CARE reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding severance payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 4a):

"The following staff received a separation payment in calendar year 2018:

 Lee T Love, Vice President Fundraising and Marketing – $116,759."


The $116,759 is also reported as the amount of total compensation for Lee T. Love in calendar year 2018 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).


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