Celebrating 30 years of helping you give wisely
America's most independent,
assertive charity watchdog
Top Rated

Seva Foundation

CharityWatch report issued
March 2024

Top-Rated Charity
A-
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
78%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$15
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Seva Foundation
1786 Fifth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.seva.org

Stated Mission

Partners worldwide to create self-sustaining programs that preserve and restore sight.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 06/30/2023

Program Percentage: 78%

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

$13,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $15

How many dollars Seva Foundation spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$9,600,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Seva Foundation Audited Financial Statements 38-2231279
Seva Foundation IRS Form 990 38-2231279
Entity: Seva Foundation
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 38-2231279
Entity: Seva Foundation
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 38-2231279

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?
 
Seva Foundation
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Seva Foundation
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

  Name Title Compensation
1 Kathleen Moynihan Executive Director $255,834
2 Deborah Moses CFO $200,445
3 Heidi Chase Chief Program Officer $171,454
1
Name: Kathleen Moynihan
Title: Executive Director
Compensation: $255,834
2
Name: Deborah Moses
Title: CFO
Compensation: $200,445
3
Name: Heidi Chase
Title: Chief Program Officer
Compensation: $171,454

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 Seva Foundation audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 11, In-Kind Contributions), the Foundation reports receiving in-kind contributions in fiscal 2023 on which it placed a total value of $371,355, including $157,366 in donated "Advertising" and $127,548 in "Ophthalmology professional services."

[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 Seva Foundation audit of June 30, 2023 (Note 14, Related Party Transactions):

"A summary of the related party transactions as of and for the year ended June 30, 2023, are as follows:

  • Two Seva board members are directors and/or owners of two separate partner hospitals to the Foundation. The Foundation provided grant funding to the partner hospitals in the amount of $1,980,553 during the year ended June 30, 2023.


  • Contributions received from members of the Foundation's board of directors totaled $72,198 during the year ended June 30, 2023."

According to the Seva Foundation tax filing for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the Foundation reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding severance payments or change-of-control payments (Schedule J, Part I, Line 4a):

"Ruth Tamura, a retiring employee, received severance of $141,617, included in her compensation on Part II, Column B(III)."

Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"Most of the individuals listed on Part VII received non-fixed bonuses based on their performance and achievement of goals. Bonus determination was documented in writing at the time of approval."


Seva Foundation reports "Bonus & incentive compensation" payments to 4 individuals during the fiscal year-ending 6/30/2023:

(1) Kathleen Moynihan, Executive Director: $14,000, with reported total compensation of $255,834;

(2) Deborah Moses, CFO: $14,000, with reported total compensation of $200,445

(3) Heidi Chase, Chief Program Officer: $5,000, with reported total compensation of $171,454; and

(4) Julie Nestingen, Chief Philanthropy Officer: $5,000. with reported total compensation of $158,612