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Top Rated

DonorsChoose.org

CharityWatch report issued
July 2022

Top-Rated Charity
A+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
93%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$4
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

DonorsChoose.org
134 W. 37th St.
Floor 11
New York, NY 10018

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Engages the public in public schools by giving people a simple, accountable and personal way to address educational inequity; envisions a nation where children in every community have the tools and experiences needed for an excellent education.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2021

Program Percentage: 93%

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

$139,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $4

How many dollars DonorsChoose.org spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$158,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
DonorsChoose.org Audited Financial Statements 13-4129457
DonorsChoose.org IRS Form 990 13-4129457
Entity: DonorsChoose.org
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 13-4129457
Entity: DonorsChoose.org
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 13-4129457

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?
 
DonorsChoose.org
meets governance benchmarks.
 
DonorsChoose.org
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-In Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Charles Best CEO $384,572
2 Oliver Hurst-Hiller Chief Technology Officer $321,453
3 Katie Bisbee Chief Marketing Officer $312,903
1
Name: Charles Best
Title: CEO
Compensation: $384,572
2
Name: Oliver Hurst-Hiller
Title: Chief Technology Officer
Compensation: $321,453
3
Name: Katie Bisbee
Title: Chief Marketing Officer
Compensation: $312,903

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.

According to the DonorsChoose.org audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 10, Donated Services), DonorsChoose.org received in-kind donated services in fiscal 2021 on which it placed a total value of $70,959,779. Included in the total is $70,523,912 in donated public service announcements (PSAs).

[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 DonorsChoose.org audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 5b, Concentrations):

"For the year ended June 30, 2021, approximately 9% of total revenue was received from one donor. For the year ended June 30, 2020, approximately 6% of total revenue was received from one donor."

According to the DonorsChoose.org audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 13, Related Party Transaction):

"The Chief Executive Officer of DonorsChoose.org has created RedPen, a Benefit Corporation. The purpose of RedPen is to create an online tool to help improve business writing. This free online tool is available at http://irregardless.ly.

"RedPen is funded by proceeds earned by the Chief Executive Officer for public speaking engagements. The Chief Executive Officer has contributed to DonorsChoose.org a 20% equity interest in RedPen, which was deemed to have nominal value at the time of donation. Beginning in fiscal year 2014, RedPen began donating at least 30% of its revenue to DonorsChoose.org to fund classroom projects. A donation of $1,475 was made during the year ended June 30, 2021. No donations were made during the year ended June 30, 2020."

According to the DonorsChoose.org audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 9, Investments):

"DonorsChoose.org has committed to invest a total of $3,050,000 in limited partnerships which make periodic capital calls. As of June 30, 2021, $1,236,345 of this commitment has been invested, leaving an outstanding commitment of $1,813,655."

According to the DonorsChoose.org audit of June 30, 2021 (Note 14, Significant Event):

"In March 2020, the United States declared the global pandemic novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency. As the global pandemic continued into fiscal year 2021, DonorsChoose.org launched additional initiatives to put materials in the hands of teachers and students regardless of whether schools were physically open or closed. Management continues to evaluate the potential impact of COVID-19 on DonorsChoose.org's operations."


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