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Transfair USA
Also known as Fair Trade USA
Transfair USA reported $22.2 million in revenue and $20.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $77.34 went to program services, $14.78 to management and general costs and $7.88 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 94.5% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $469,274 (CEO (THRU 9/24)). 34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 3% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $20MFor 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 $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 77.3% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.8% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.9% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $1.61 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 4.4% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 94.5% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $469,274 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.35% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 34 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 9 | 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 expenseThe fair trade certified coffee program continued to drive meaningful change in 2024 through rigorous standards, community development funds, and minimum price guaranteesmechanisms that protect workers, strengthen financial stability, and empower communities to invest in critical needs. Fair trade USA also advanced consumer engagement by partnering with brands and educating shoppers on the value of ethical sourcing, contributing to 65% consumer awareness and thousands of fair trade certified products available in the marketplace. Building on this momentum, we launched a coffee innovation…
The fair trade certified cpg program advanced its impact in 2024 across multiple industries by expanding into new product categories to meet partner and consumer demand. Through rigorous fair trade standards, the program actively mitigated risk while ensuring safer working environments, fairer wages, improved benefits, and stronger protections for workers. These efforts reinforced our commitment to eliminating forced labor and poverty while creating more sustainable and equitable supply chains
The fair trade certified produce and seafood programs advanced its mission in 2024 by applying rigorous standards that promote transparency, fairness, and economic empowerment across global supply chains. Through robust compliance, in-field support, and partnerships spanning multiple commodities, fair trade USA protected human rights, strengthened livelihoods for farmers, fishers, and workers, and built community and supply chain resiliency. To date, producer communities have received financial benefit to farmers, fishers, and workers in 2024 $81 million in financial benefits, including…
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 (THRU 9/24) Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $434,031 | $0 | $35,243 | $469,274 |
| CFO AND TREASURER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $284,078 | $0 | $36,767 | $320,845 |
| HEAD OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $253,212 | $0 | $31,936 | $285,148 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $279,252 | $0 | $0 | $279,252 |
| COO/INTERIM CEO (AS OF 9/24) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $254,093 | $0 | $0 | $254,093 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $226,350 | $0 | $19,819 | $246,169 |
| SR. DIRECTOR OF RETAIL (THRU 12/24) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $220,566 | $0 | $16,222 | $236,788 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $204,500 | $0 | $18,976 | $223,476 |
34 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Transfair USA (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (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–1b9 · 9 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 599
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MODELIT Software development services | $1,025,985 |
| PC PROFESSIONAL Software development services | $190,630 |
| BERKERY-PFYL PARTNERS LIMITED Head of marketing | $147,814 |
| CHAINPOINT Consulting support for chainpoint applic | $124,239 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 8 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Transfair USA totaling $200K 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 Transfair USA's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Transfair USA, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Transfair USA spent in 2024, $77.34 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Transfair USA's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Transfair USA reported that 77.3% of its $20.0 million in expenses went to program services, 14.8% to management and general and 7.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Transfair USA pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Transfair USA reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $469,274, for the role of CEO (THRU 9/24) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Transfair USA get its money?
Of $22.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 4.4% came from contributions and grants and 94.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Transfair USA a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-1848081 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 202543169349309764 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443129349303364 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313189349310716 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223189349316472 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103199349322365 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013189349305321 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-1848081: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.