Acumen Fund INC FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(3)Since 2001InternationalEIN 13-4166228Revenue $28.9M in FY2020

On file with the IRSacumen.org40 Worth St Rm 303, 10013-3196 · New York, NYTax-exempt since Jul 2001Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Acumen's mission is to change the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders and ideas.acumen's vision is that one day every human being will have access to the critical goods and services they need - including affordable health care, clean energy, education, water & sanitation, housing, access to financial services, and agricultural inputs - so they have the choice and opportunity to transform their lives.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$3.5M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $15.1M a year · 34% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$3.5M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
20 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 20.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.4M
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$28.9M
Spent
$28.4M
To programs
86%
Net assets
$136.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$28.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$28.9M
FY2021$30.5M
FY2022$61.1M
FY2023$53.2M
FY2024$46.4M
Expenses
$28.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$28.4M
FY2021$22.8M
FY2022$28.9M
FY2023$30.2M
FY2024$34.2M
Net assets
$136.1M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$136.1M
FY2021$144.4M
FY2022$176.4M
FY2023$196.3M
FY2024$204.1M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2001.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $24.4M Management & general 5% · $1.5M Fundraising 8% · $2.4M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

30 people listed on the 990; $3.5M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO & Director
$355,766Pt VII · Sec A
$303,345Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Marketing Officer
$269,710Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Investment Officer
$245,935Pt VII · Sec A
Strategic Partnerships Officer
$231,975Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$229,287Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Business Development
$225,889Pt VII · Sec A
Board Secretary / General Counsel
$224,053Pt VII · Sec A

Jacqueline Novogratz’s $393K as CEO & Director is at the 77th percentile of top reported officer pay among 345 $10–100M international nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jacqueline Novogratz$393,218$373,288$356,530$319,600$355,766
Carlyle Singer Jones$352,317$334,865$325,418$272,988$303,345
Amrita Bhandari$293,177$257,830$255,799$222,600$225,889
Lynn Roland$284,047$250,065$244,540$207,305$224,053
Yasmina Zaidman$282,481$252,052$250,997——
William Charnock—$240,774$279,462$248,436$269,710
Katherine Parker$269,689————
Jacqueline Woo$194,146$252,096$248,928$216,048$229,287

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Acumen Fund INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Invests in social enterprises and trains leaders to deliver critical services like healthcare, clean energy, and education to people living in poverty worldwide.

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3 programs · $24.4M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Investing and Portfolio Management

Acumen fund, inc. (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 health care, energy, education, water & sanitation, housing, financial services, and…

$14.7Mprogram expense
02

Fellows and Leadership Programs

In 2020, acumen reorganized its fellows and leadership programs, bringing them under the umbrella of acumen academy. Launched in may, acumen academy combines our +acumen online courses and fellowship programs under one brand, platform, and WEBSITE.IN 2020, acumen expanded our fellows programs into four new regions: bangladesh, malaysia…

$6.2Mprogram expense
03

Impact and Communications

The goal of the impact and communications teams at acumen is to support the mission of changing the way the world tackles poverty by sharing the insights from our work, catalyzing an entrepreneurial, markets-based approach to solving poverty, and shifting public perception to see the potential of low-income PEOPLE.WHILE pivoting to…

$3.5Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Visionary WomenFY2025$10K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 73 grants · $7.7M · 2020–2024
Acumen Capital Partners LLCFY2024$412,278
Refugee Investment Network INCDC · FY2024$333,163
City of Samaritans PbcFY2024$25,000
Kaizen Health INCFY2024$25,000
Zeraki INCFY2024$10,000
Rasa Public Benefit CorporationFY2024$10,000
Farmbox Direct INCFY2024$10,000
Free from MarketFY2024$10,000
Climate Policy Initiative INCCA · FY2023$374,279
Refugee Investment Network INCDC · FY2023$151,823
MaziwaCA · FY2023$95,566
Kaizen Health INCFY2023$60,000
City of Samaritans PbcFY2023$60,000
Sanergy INCMA · FY2023$50,491
Simusolar INCFY2023$50,000
See all 73 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$28.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$24.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$834K
Money outPt IX
$28.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$24.4M
Managementcol C$1.5M
Fundraisingcol D$2.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$136.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$48.5M
Total assetsLn 16$141.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
30
listed · VII A
PaidVII A16
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$24.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$685K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$526K
Other incomeLn 4–11$834K
Gains on assetsLn 7$278K
Total revenueLn 12$28.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$628K
SavingsLn 2$47.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$48.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$76.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$152K
Other assetsLn 15$905K
Total assetsLn 16$141.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.4M
Net assetsLn 32$136.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 587
VolunteersI 614
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$45.3M$48.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$64.6M$76.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$305K$152K
Total assetsLn 16$140.9M$141.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.0M$5.4M
Net assetsLn 32$135.9M$136.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$4.6M$4.6M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$26K$26K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$3.0M$3.0M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$3.0M$2.5M$247K$245K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$233K$233K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$5.2M$3.4M$386K$1.4M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$237K$169K$18K$50K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$572K$407K$46K$119K
Payroll taxesLn 10$649K$477K$54K$118K
Management feesLn 11a$141K$93K$14K$34K
Legal feesLn 11b$147K$83K$64K
Accounting feesLn 11c$136K$84K$26K$26K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.2M$2.0M$99K$75K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$116K$112K$3K$463
Office expensesLn 13$199K$130K$30K$39K
Information technologyLn 14$556K$357K$102K$96K
OccupancyLn 16$678K$480K$50K$148K
TravelLn 17$151K$133K$6K$12K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$36K$26K$4K$6K
InterestLn 20$9K$9K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$138K$112K$6K$20K
InsuranceLn 23$75K$51K$6K$17K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$6.2M$5.9M$318K$13K
All other expensesLn 24e$64K$3K$61K$106
Total functional expensesLn 25$28.4M$24.4M$1.5M$2.4M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $46.4M$34.2M$12.2M$204.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $53.2M$30.2M$23.0M$196.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $61.1M$28.9M$32.2M$176.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $30.5M$22.8M$7.7M$144.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $28.9M$28.4M$469K$136.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $28,858,136 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $25,402,570$24,665,203
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,317,027$2,833,283
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,756,044$525,861
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $491,207$833,789
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $30,966,848$28,858,136
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $3,119,886$7,644,532
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $12,801,378$9,893,930
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $3,316,680$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $10,648,613$10,850,835
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $29,886,557$28,389,297
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,080,291$468,839
Part VI · Governance 13 of 14 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $28,858,136 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,711,767
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$22,953,436
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$684,847
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$24,665,203
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,833,283$2,833,283
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $31,790 · Excluded from tax $216,162$247,952
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $277,909$277,909
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $833,789$833,789
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,833,283 · Unrelated business $31,790 · Excluded from tax $1,327,860$28,858,136
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $28,389,297 across 24 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $4,626,440$4,626,440
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $26,000$26,000
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $2,992,092$2,992,092
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $2,525,745 · Management $246,762 · Fundraising $245,123$3,017,630
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $233,418$233,418
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,409,313 · Management $385,896 · Fundraising $1,390,293$5,185,502
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $168,702 · Management $18,412 · Fundraising $49,578$236,692
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $406,673 · Management $46,096 · Fundraising $119,418$572,187
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $476,628 · Management $53,520 · Fundraising $118,353$648,501
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $92,798 · Management $13,651 · Fundraising $34,087$140,536
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $83,090 · Management $64,391$147,481
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $83,542 · Management $26,454 · Fundraising $26,054$136,050
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,042,298 · Management $98,881 · Fundraising $74,597$2,215,776
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $112,437 · Management $3,431 · Fundraising $463$116,331
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $130,162 · Management $30,287 · Fundraising $38,682$199,131
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $357,138 · Management $102,486 · Fundraising $96,230$555,854
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $479,661 · Management $50,386 · Fundraising $148,211$678,258
IX-17 TravelPrograms $133,196 · Management $5,570 · Fundraising $12,267$151,033
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $25,684 · Management $4,399 · Fundraising $6,257$36,340
IX-20 InterestManagement $8,551$8,551
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $112,267 · Management $5,627 · Fundraising $19,774$137,668
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $51,362 · Management $6,478 · Fundraising $17,116$74,956
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,857,802 · Management $317,624 · Fundraising $13,383$6,188,809
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $2,933 · Management $61,022 · Fundraising $106$64,061
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $24,429,381 · Management $1,549,924 · Fundraising $2,409,992$28,389,297
Part X · Balance sheet $141,486,235 assets, 18 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $750,000; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $487,896$627,646
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $44,765,207$47,907,426
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $24,288,449$13,088,483
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,841,125$1,319,585
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $378,654$278,918
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $305,181$152,265
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $500,959$610,261
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $64,055,890$75,846,773
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $882,735$904,878
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $140,919,171$141,486,235
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,847,209$2,211,182
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $804,470$648,534
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,388,133$2,548,660
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,039,812$5,408,376
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $86,591,977$99,487,137
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $49,287,382$36,590,722
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $135,879,359$136,077,859
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $140,919,171$141,486,235
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $136,077,859 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$28,858,136
XI-2 Total expenses$28,389,297
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$468,839
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$135,879,359
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$270,339
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$136,077,859

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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