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Acumen Fund
Acumen Fund reported $46.4 million in revenue and $34.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $77.43 went to program services, $11.72 to management and general costs and $10.85 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.1% of the total. Government grants made up 7.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $432,513 (CEO & DIRECTOR). 38 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 50% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $34MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $46MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.4% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.7% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 10.9% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 95.1% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 7.9% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $432,513 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.26% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 38 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 71.6 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseInvesting and portfolio management:we invest across the capital continuum to help transformational companies grow from seed to scale. Acumen invests patient capital in business models that deliver critical, affordable goods and services to the world's poor, improving the lives of millions. Since 2001, acumen has invested in businesses that provide access to healthcare, energy, education, water & sanitation, housing, financial services, and agricultural services to low-income customers. Our investments are addressing the problems of poverty in east and west africa, south asia, latin america…
Insights & impact:the goal of the insights and impact teams at acumen is to support the mission of solving problems poverty through data-driven strategies. We do this by building models, sharing the insights from our work and holding ourselves and our peers accountable. Our impact measurement and management framework helps US define and measure our impact, including breadth and depth of impact. Through 2024, acumen has reached over 719 million lives impacted through our patient capital and for-profit investments
Fellows & leadership programs:we prepare leaders with the tools, capital and community they need to build scalable solutions to poverty. Our recently launched-learning engagement platform offers a full-service space for entrepreneurs and fellows to engage with each other. Acumen academy's has grown to more than 1800 fellows, has awarded 99 early-stage grants to foundry members and facilitated over 1.3 million online course sign-ups. Through academy organizations and companies, we have reached 71 million lives impacted
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO & DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 39.50 hrs/week | $393,218 | $0 | $39,295 | $432,513 |
| PRESIDENT Officer, 39.50 hrs/week | $352,317 | $0 | $21,861 | $374,178 |
| BOARD SECRETARY/GENERAL COUNSEL Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $284,047 | $0 | $52,621 | $336,668 |
| CHIEF OF DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $282,481 | $0 | $51,689 | $334,170 |
| CHIEF OF INSIGHTS & STRATEGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $293,177 | $0 | $9,265 | $302,442 |
| DIRECTOR, ACUMEN AMERICA Key employee, 0.00 hrs/week | $251,547 | $0 | $35,950 | $287,497 |
| CHIEF OF ACADEMY Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $269,689 | $0 | $8,740 | $278,429 |
| CHIEF OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $247,230 | $0 | $21,413 | $268,643 |
38 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Acumen Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.8M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 11 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5140
- Volunteers Part I, line 612
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| 60 DECIBELS INC Impact measurement | $508,512 |
| DLIGHT DESIGN INC Solar energy and ultra-effi. Products | $329,000 |
| RSM US LLP Accounting services | $284,660 |
| 41 BRIDGE PARTNERS LLC Recruiting | $237,984 |
| ANNA MARIE EVENTS INC Event planning | $237,500 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 18 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
26 private foundations reported grants to Acumen Fund totaling $6.0M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Acumen Fund's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Acumen Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Acumen Fund spent in 2024, $77.43 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Christian Relief ServicesAlexandria, VA · revenue $46M · programs 90.7% · FY2025
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- AmideastWashington, DC · revenue $46M · programs 74.7% · FY2025
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All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Acumen Fund's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Acumen Fund reported that 77.4% of its $34.2 million in expenses went to program services, 11.7% to management and general and 10.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Acumen Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Acumen Fund reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $432,513, for the role of CEO & DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Acumen Fund get its money?
Of $46.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 95.1% came from contributions and grants (including 7.9% from government grants) and 3.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Acumen Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-4166228 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523169349309452 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443209349318104 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202333199349302213 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223199349318632 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143199349324699 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033219349317413 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-4166228: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.