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United States Association for UNHCR

CharityWatch report issued
May 2022

 
NOT
RATABLE
CharityWatch Grade
 

Contact Information

United States Association for UNHCR
1310 L Street, NW
Suite 450
Washington, DC 20005

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

Protects refugees and empowers them with hope and opportunity.

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Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2020

*Why Not Ratable?

CharityWatch is unable to rate this organization due to how it is structured. This does not imply a negative or positive evaluation.

Some charities engage in significant financial transactions with a related organization outside of the U.S. for which sufficient audited financial information is either not available, is not presented in combined form, and/or is not based on U.S. reporting standards. CharityWatch's methodology is not designed to measure how efficiently one entity of a charity grants funds to its affiliates, partners, or related organization(s) outside of the U.S. In many of these cases, the charity is essentially functioning as a U.S. based fundraising arm. Therefore, when applicable, CharityWatch has calculated a Cost to Raise $100 fundraising ratio for such charities.

Please see the Analysts' Notes section for a more detailed explanation and for this organization's Cost to Raise $100, if applicable.


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.
United States Association for UNHCR
meets governance benchmarks.
 
United States Association for UNHCR
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 No Sharing  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Anne-Marie Grey Executive Director/CEO $443,183
2 Yelena Bakaleva CFO $291,381
3 Lisa Meadowcroft Past Chief Development Officer $259,825
1
Name: Anne-Marie Grey
Title: Executive Director/CEO
Compensation: $443,183
2
Name: Yelena Bakaleva
Title: CFO
Compensation: $291,381
3
Name: Lisa Meadowcroft
Title: Past Chief Development Officer
Compensation: $259,825

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 complete rating of the United States Association for UNHCR (The Association) due to how the organization is structured. The Association raises funds from the public then later makes grants to a separate agency, the UNHCR. The UNHCR then uses the grants it receives from the Association, along with revenues from other sources, to carry out its humanitarian efforts.

The UNHCR is not a charity, but rather a multi-lateral government agency made up of government members from many countries around the world. CharityWatch's methodology is designed to evaluate charitable organizations, not governmental agencies, and therefore cannot be applied in a meaningful or consistent way to judge the efficiency with which the UNHCR spends funds in support of its humanitarian efforts.

United States Association for UNHCR spends a comparatively small amount of funds on programs (approximately $8.3 million in 2020) once program spending that consists of cash grants to UNHCR (over $27 million in 2020) are excluded. In short, The Association constructively functions as the U.S. based fundraising arm for the UNHCR. In 2020, The Association transferred to UNHCR approximately $27.0 million of the approximately $45.0 million in cash funds it raised.

For this reason, CharityWatch is able to provide a Cost to Raise $100 fundraising ratio for The Association:

For the year-ended 12/31/2020, the United States Association for UNHCR spent approximately $18.9 million on fundraising to raise approximately $45.0 million in cash contributions. This equates to spending about $42 to raise each $100 in cash donations.

CharityWatch, however, is unable to provide a Program % for the United States Association for UNHCR, as we do not believe it is fair to publish this ratio alongside those of other charities that conduct their own programs and/or primarily make grants to other, independent charities.

CharityWatch's inability to provide a complete rating of the United States Association for UNHCR is strictly due to how the organization is structured. The Association posts its audited financial statements on its website at www.unrefugees.org for those donors who are interested in reviewing additional information about its financial activities.

According to the United States Association for UNHCR (The Association) audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: In-kind contributions), The Association received in-kind contributions in 2020 on which it placed a total value of $41,057,050. The in-kind contributions "consisted of donated face shields, clothing, transportation services, shipping costs, and 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 United States Association for UNHCR audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 10, Loan Payable):

"On May 4, 2020, USA for UNHCR received loan proceeds in the amount of $1,082,100 under the Paycheck Protection Program. The promissory note calls for monthly principal and interest payments amortized over the term of the promissory note with a deferral of payments for the first six months. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the promissory note may be forgiven by the Small Business Administration in whole or in part. USA for UNHCR intends to use the proceeds for purposes consistent with the Paycheck Protection Program and believes that its use of the loan proceeds will meet the conditions for forgiveness of the loan. USA for UNHCR intends to apply for forgiveness after completing the 24-week period. If forgiveness is granted, USA for UNHCR will record revenue from debt extinguishment during the period that forgiveness is approved."

According to the United States Association for UNHCR audit of December 31, 2020 (Note 1 re: Economic uncertainties):

"On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic. As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen which may negatively impact USA for UNHCR's operations. The overall potential impact is unknown at this time."

According to the United States Association for UNHCR (The Association) 2020 tax filing, The Association 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):

"Severance payments are reported in Part II, column (B)(iii) ['Other reportable compensation']."

The Association reports dollar amounts for two individuals on Schedule J, Part II in column (B)(iii), "Other reportable compensation": (1) $52,282 paid to Lisa Meadowcroft, Chief Dev. Officer (until 9/2020); and (2) $44,096 paid to Elizabeth Marks, Dir. Community Fundr. (until 11/2020). The reported total compensation for the individuals in 2020 is $259,825 and $234,601, respectively (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).


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

"Bonus compensation is reported in Part II, column (B)(ii) ['Bonus & incentive compensation']."

The Association reports dollar amounts for five individuals on Schedule J, Part II in column (B)(ii),"Bonus & incentive compensation," including $47,348 paid to Anne-Marie Grey, Executive Director and CEO, whose reported total compensation in 2020 is $443,183. The other four individuals received "Bonus & incentive compensation" payments ranging from $16,349 to $14,308; their associated reported total compensation in 2020 ranged from $291,381 to $229,205 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).


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