Greater Good Charities

Tax-deductible

Seattle, WA501(c)(3)Since 2006Foundations & GrantmakersEIN 20-4846675

Greater good charities works to help people, animals and the environment by mobilizing in response to need and amplifying the good. Greater good charities leverages donor generosity and the resulting impacts of its wide-ranging program successes by strategically developing the synergies created by the multiple intersections of these activities. The outcomes achieved through this unique approach amplify the good.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
93¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1,530 volunteers and 94 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.4M a year · under 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
93%
of spending
Looks good: 93% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.7M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 81% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.6 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $72K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.3M
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$173.2M
-44% vs prior year
Spent
$164.4M
To programs
93%
Net assets
$22.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$173.2M
FY2024▼ -44%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$75.4M
FY2021$77.0M
FY2022$117.8M
FY2023$154.2M
FY2024$311.9M
FY2024$173.2M
Expenses
$164.4M
FY2024▼ -47%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$72.9M
FY2021$78.8M
FY2022$112.6M
FY2023$154.2M
FY2024$310.6M
FY2024$164.4M
Net assets
$22.1M
FY2024▲ +67%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.5M
FY2021$6.7M
FY2022$11.9M
FY2023$11.9M
FY2024$13.2M
FY2024$22.1M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Status and standing

Is it real, and can you give to it?

Tax-deductible?
Yes
Per the IRS master file.
Can I give now?
No revocation on IRS record
Not on the IRS revocation list.
Filing up to date?
Filed FY2024 (typical filing lag)
Legal name (IRS)Hdr · item CGreater Good Charities
EINHdr · item D20-4846675
Exempt statusHdr · item I501(c)(3) · active
Ruling yearIRS BMFSep 2007
Year of formationHdr · item L2006
Latest filingForm 990FY2024 · Form 990
Principal addressHdr · item CSeattle, WA
NTEE classificationIRS BMFFoundations & Grantmakers (T30)
WebsiteHdr · item Jwww.greatergood.org

Where the money goes

What each dollar paid for.

Statement of Functional Expenses

Part IX · allocated across program, management, and fundraising
Allocation · columns B–D
Program services $0.93 Management & general $0.02 Fundraising $0.05
Program services93%$152.8M
Management & general2%$2.8M
Fundraising5%$8.8M
Total functional expensesLn 25$164.4M

Finances

Money in and out, what it owns and owes

Spent on programs
93%
of spending reaches programs▼ -5% vs prior filing year
Months of spending covered by cash
6.6mo
months of spending covered by cash and easy-to-sell investments▲ +10% vs prior filing year
Surplus or deficit
+5%
as % of revenue, this year▲ ×12 vs prior filing year

Summary of the Filing

Part I · fiscal year 2024 · Form 990
Total assets
$24.4M
FY2024▲ +53%
Total assets by fiscal year
FY2020$10.0M
FY2021$7.9M
FY2022$14.1M
FY2023$15.6M
FY2024$16.0M
FY2024$24.4M
Total liabilities
$2.3M
FY2024▼ -14%
Total liabilities by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$2.2M
FY2023$3.7M
FY2024$2.7M
FY2024$2.3M
Revenue less expensesPt I · Ln 19$8.8M
Total assetsPt X · Ln 16$24.4M
Spent on programsPt IX · col B93%
Voting members of governing bodyPt I · Ln 39
Independent voting membersPt I · Ln 49

Balance Sheet

Part X · end of year
CashLn 1$8.6M
Total assetsLn 16$24.4M
Total liabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
Total net assetsLn 32$22.1M
Months of cash on handcomputed0.6

Statement of Revenue

Part VIII
Contributions & grants$168.8M · 97%
Program service revenue$3.0M · 2%
Other revenue$1.1M · 1%
Contributions & grants97%$168.8M
Program service revenue2%$3.0M
Other revenue1%$1.1M
Investment income$287K
Total revenueLn 12$173.2M

Money in detail

Form 990 · FY2024 · each figure shown with the dollars behind it
Cash and giving out
Months of spending covered by cash
Cash and easy-to-sell investments $13.1M · Operating expenses (Pt IX) $164.4M · Less non-cash grants $140.6M · Cash operating expenses/yr $23.8M
6.6 months
Where the money goes
Program services
Program services $152.8M · Total expenses $164.4M
93%
Management & General
Management & general $2.8M · Total expenses $164.4M
2%
Fundraising
Fundraising $8.8M · Total expenses $164.4M
5%
Cost to raise $1
Fundraising expense (3-yr avg) $5.6M · Solicited contributions (3-yr avg) $209.2M
$0.03 to raise $1 (3-yr avg)
Where the money comes from
Contribution dependence
Contributions & grants $168.8M · Total revenue $173.2M
97%
Government reliance
Government grants — · Total revenue $173.2M
—
Earned-income share
Program service revenue $3.0M · Total revenue $173.2M
2%
Investment reliance
Investment income $287K · Total revenue $173.2M
+0.2%
Program self-sufficiency
Program service revenue $3.0M · Total expenses $164.4M
2%
Growth & trend
Revenue change from last year
This year $173.2M · Prior year $311.9M
-44%
Revenue, average yearly change over 5 years
FY2019 $75.4M · FY2024 $173.2M
+18%
Net assets change over the year
End of year $22.1M · Beginning of year —
Beginning net assets not meaningfully positive — showing dollar change
Balance sheet
Surplus or deficit, as % of revenue
Revenue $173.2M · Expenses $164.4M
+5%
Debts compared to what it owns
Total liabilities — · Total assets $24.4M
—
Net assets compared to what it owns
Net assets $22.1M · Total assets $24.4M
90%
Marketable Investment Share
Publicly traded securities (Pt X, ln 11) $4.5M · Other securities (Pt X, ln 12) — · Total assets (Pt X, ln 16) $24.4M
19%
People & payroll
Highest Reported Total Compensation
Individual Liz Baker · Reported title CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER · Highest reported compensation $303K · Total expenses $164.4M
0.2%
Personnel share
Salaries, benefits & payroll (Pt IX 5-10) $9.2M · Total expenses $164.4M
6%
Peer comparison

Same NTEE category, revenue band, and state where available. Descriptive — not a grade.

MetricThis orgPeer medianPercentile
Spent on programs 93%——
Spent on management, % of spending 2%——
Fundraising cost, % of gifts 5%——
Revenue growth -44%——

Straight from the Form 990 — descriptive, not an evaluation. A share is hidden when its base is zero or too small to be meaningful; the dollars are always shown.

Leadership and pay

Who runs it, and what are they paid?

Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Executive Officer
$303,238Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$222,460Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$214,210Pt VII · Sec A
Executive VP, Fundraising
$187,803Pt VII · Sec A
General Counsel (thru 02/25)
$178,398Pt VII · Sec A
Executive VP, Programs
$164,118Pt VII · Sec A
EVP, Programs (thru 05/25)
$157,723Pt VII · Sec A
Executive VP, Communications
$152,835Pt VII · Sec A

Liz Baker’s $303K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 19th percentile of top reported officer pay among 129 $100M+ philanthropy & grantmaking 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

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Liz Baker$303,238$290,242$297,138$222,000$202,684$218,811
Noah Horton$222,460$199,634$195,581$168,442$154,577$150,439
Jemimah Okantey$214,210$190,080$182,200$159,150$144,900$141,021
Elizabeth Asher————$199,936$159,031
Melissa Rubin$187,803$144,017$178,333$125,654——
Stephen Minter$178,398$183,006$187,738$163,905$159,907$155,627
Sean Cherry—$166,624$138,500———
Sara Varsa$164,118$144,175—$119,167——

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.

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Governance & Policies

Part VI
  • 9Voting board membersPt VI · Ln 1a
  • 9Independent board membersPt VI · Ln 1b
  • Conflict-of-interest policyPt VI · Ln 12aYes
  • Whistleblower policyPt VI · Ln 13Yes
  • Document retention policyPt VI · Ln 14Yes
  • Top official’s pay independently reviewedPt VI · Ln 15aYes
  • Family or business ties among leadersPt VI · Ln 2Yes

Mission and programs

What it does.

Provides global aid, funding, and expertise to protect endangered species, restore habitats, plant trees, and support people, animals, and the environment.

Provided by the organization

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Mission & Programs · Part III

Where the work happens

3 program services account for $152.8M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

Animals

$134,933,555 was granted to animal welfare organizations for items like food, vaccinations, shelter renovations, enrichment, SPAY/NEUTER, education and training, and disaster preparedness and response.

$145.1Mprogram expense
02

People

$1,266,488 was granted to charities addressing hunger, poverty, health and education in the U.S. And internationally. Funds supported programs to provide basic health services, distribute nutritious dense food boxes, and basic survival supplies in areas affected by disasters.

$5.9Mprogram expense
03

Environment

$299,596 was granted to non-profit partners who work to protect endangered animal species, plant trees in deforested areas to offset carbon emissions and study habitat for conservation and restoration purposes.

$1.7Mprogram expense

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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
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$72K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 818 grants · $9.5M · 2019–2024
St Hubert's Animal Welfare CenterDC · FY2024$90,950
Lucky Dog Animal RescueVA · FY2024$42,370
Second Chance Rescue INCNY · FY2024$29,380
Simply CatsID · FY2024$27,158
Safe BerksPA · FY2024$22,832
Crossing Paths Animal RescueAL · FY2024$19,989
Humane Society of WilkesNC · FY2024$19,230
Bubbles Dog RescueCA · FY2024$18,149
Wayside Waifs INCMO · FY2024$15,000
Petconnect Rescue INCMD · FY2024$14,319
See all 818 grants →

Filing history

Every return on file.

YearRevenueExpensesChangeFiling
FY2024 $311.9M$310.6M+102% 990 PDF
FY2023 $154.2M$154.2M+31% 990 PDF
FY2022 $117.8M$112.6M+53% 990 PDF
FY2021 $77.0M$78.8M+2% 990 PDF
FY2020 $75.4M$72.9M 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

Full filing: Form 990 for FY2024

Every line we hold from the return, cited to its Part and line.
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $173,184,051 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$168,775,548
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$140,604,059
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$168,775,548
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,994,523$2,994,523
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $347,049$347,049
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $1,127,173$1,127,173
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$60,242−$60,242
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,994,523 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,413,980$173,184,051
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $164,375,082 across 21 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $123,890,234$123,890,234
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $6,692,662$6,692,662
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $5,936,279$5,936,279
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $421,985 · Management $718,696 · Fundraising $262,573$1,403,254
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,720,211 · Management $633,884 · Fundraising $1,011,777$6,365,872
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $47,079 · Management $6,358 · Fundraising $10,744$64,181
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $545,225 · Management $113,086 · Fundraising $125,383$783,694
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $394,835 · Management $101,352 · Fundraising $97,115$593,302
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $51,546 · Management $104,184$155,730
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $91,569$91,569
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,084,995 · Management $156,163 · Fundraising $617,820$1,858,978
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,228,218 · Management $112,002 · Fundraising $6,256,919$7,597,139
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,695,226 · Fundraising $83,172$2,778,398
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $34,881 · Fundraising $129,326$164,207
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $194,133 · Management $45,770 · Fundraising $16,033$255,936
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,164,182 · Management $115,168 · Fundraising $75,063$1,354,413
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $28,890 · Management $1,474 · Fundraising $2,147$32,511
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $66,056 · Management $76,107 · Fundraising $8,949$151,112
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $4,556 · Management $177,913 · Fundraising $31,615$214,084
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,599,876 · Management $236,209 · Fundraising $103,897$3,939,982
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $19,031 · Management $32,514$51,545
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $152,785,219 · Management $2,757,330 · Fundraising $8,832,533$164,375,082
Part X · Balance sheet $24,447,292 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,270,445$324,141
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $6,123,364$8,228,656
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $628,873$1,010,460
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $2,515,224$8,588,807
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $794,898$544,559
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $408,070$666,973
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,682,418$4,540,231
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $538,289$543,465
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $15,961,581$24,447,292
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,374,437$1,501,216
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $96,196$30,860
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $700,367$396,638
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $553,554$407,616
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,724,554$2,336,330
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $8,870,789$20,185,446
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,366,238$1,925,516
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $13,237,027$22,110,962
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $15,961,581$24,447,292
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $22,110,962 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$173,184,051
XI-2 Total expenses$164,375,082
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$8,808,969
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$13,237,027
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$64,966
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$22,110,962

Not shown yet: ratings, outcomes, and peer benchmarks. A Form 990 doesn’t report them.

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Sources

Every figure above is drawn from these filings
Form 990 e-file (XML) · FY2024IRS
Classification, formation year, addressIRS Business Master File
Names, privacy, and removal requests More

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