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Search for Common Ground
Search for Common Ground reported $40.9 million in revenue and $45.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $76.67 went to program services, $15.85 to management and general costs and $7.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.6% of the total. Government grants made up 51.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $336,454 (CEO). 32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 76% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $46MFor 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 $41M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$47.99 $20M
- Government grants$51.24 $21M
- Program service revenue$0.03 $14,214
- Investment income$0.74 $302K
Other revenue was negative: −$138K. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 76.7% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.8% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.5% | 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 | 99.6% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 51.4% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $336,454 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.74% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 32 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.2 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 18 | 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 expenseIn africa, sfcg works to transform conflict across more than 12 countries. Our projects involve multiple stakeholders in activities including capacity building, dialogue, joint activities, and media outreach. Our work involves youth, women, civil society organizations and institutional partners
Sfcg's global programs complement our programs around the world, offering specific tools and offering expertise to strengthen our impact. These programs also address diverse stakeholders in the united states, including both institutional and civil society partners. These projects include monitoring, evaluation, academia and public sector partners
In asia, sfcg works to transform conflict across more than five countries. Our programs engage youth, media and institutional partners through dialogue, capacity building, joint activities, including media production and outreach
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/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $328,557 | $0 | $7,897 | $336,454 |
| President Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $307,728 | $0 | $6,350 | $314,078 |
| Executive Director - Digital Peacebuilding Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $233,994 | $0 | $29,211 | $263,205 |
| VP, Finance Officer, key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $209,302 | $0 | $35,560 | $244,862 |
| VP, Global Programs Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $207,014 | $0 | $16,042 | $223,056 |
| Director CG USA Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $209,832 | $0 | $6,756 | $216,588 |
| Senior Director, Program Effectiveness Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $181,980 | $0 | $25,694 | $207,674 |
| Global Director, IT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $178,590 | $0 | $28,475 | $207,065 |
32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Search for Common Ground (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.6M (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–1b18 · 17 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 5119
- Volunteers Part I, line 619
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CORPORATE TRAVELLER Travel consultant | $899,048 |
| One Million Truths Media Campaign Services | $730,000 |
| COMMUNITY COUNSELING SERVICE CO LLC Fundraising consultant | $338,935 |
| CBIZ TECHNOLOGY LLC (MARCUM) Financial solutions | $315,374 |
| BDO USA Audit services | $252,367 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
17 private foundations reported grants to Search for Common Ground totaling $2.2M 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 Search for Common Ground's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Search for Common Ground, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Search for Common Ground spent in 2024, $76.67 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 District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Search for Common Ground's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Search for Common Ground reported that 76.7% of its $45.5 million in expenses went to program services, 15.8% to management and general and 7.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Search for Common Ground pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Search for Common Ground reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $336,454, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Search for Common Ground get its money?
Of $40.9 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 99.6% came from contributions and grants (including 51.4% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Search for Common Ground a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1257425 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 202513199349303776 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403209349323300 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303149349304700 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213169349300821 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123169349302112 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013449349300611 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1257425: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.