Celebrating 25+ years of helping you give wisely
America's most independent,
assertive charity watchdog
Top Rated

Helen Keller International

CharityWatch report issued
September 2019

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
85%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$7
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.
Ratings & Metrics

Contact Information

Helen Keller International
One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
Floor 2
New York, NY 10017

Other Names

ChildSight
HKI
HKI Support

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.hki.org

Stated Mission

To save & improve the sight & lives of the world's vulnerable by combating the causes & consequences of blindness, poor health and malnutrition through programs based on evidence & research.

View similar charities

Ratings & Metrics

Learn more about Ratings & Metrics
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2018

Program Percentage: 85%

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

$84,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $7

How many dollars Helen Keller International spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$29,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

50% to 100%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Helen Keller International IRS Form 990 13-5562162
HKI Support IRS Form 990 26-4676791
Helen Keller International Consolidated Audited Financial Statements Multiple
Entity: Helen Keller International
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 13-5562162
Entity: HKI Support
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 26-4676791
Entity: Helen Keller International
Document Type: Consolidated Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple

Governance & Transparency

Learn more about 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?
 
Helen Keller International
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Helen Keller International
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  

Top Salaries

Learn more about Top Salaries
  Name Title Compensation
1 Kathy Spahn President/CEO $413,861
2 Christopher Landry Chief of Party, Suaahara $302,710
3 Nancy Haitch VP, External Relations $267,124
1
Name: Kathy Spahn
Title: President/CEO
Compensation: $413,861
2
Name: Christopher Landry
Title: Chief of Party, Suaahara
Compensation: $302,710
3
Name: Nancy Haitch
Title: VP, External Relations
Compensation: $267,124

Analysts' Notes

Learn more about Analysts' Notes
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 Helen Keller International (HKI) consolidated audit of June 30, 2018 (Note 2, Contributions of Medical Supplies, Medicines and Other (In-Kind)):

"Contributions of medical supplies consist of supplies received from major pharmaceutical companies and are used to fight and prevent blindness. ... During the years ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, HKI received and distributed $164,901,750 and $147,117,000, respectively, of the product Mectizan from a donor for the treatment of onchocerciasis..."


According to the HKI tax filing for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, HKI also received other donated in-kind items in fiscal 2018 on which it placed a total value of $378,590 (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.]

Related External Articles

GiveWell Report on Helen Keller International's Vitamin A Supplementation Program