We cultivate, inspire and connect emerging science leaders in Africa and Asia to work with societal partners in creating a more sustainable and equitable future.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 5 volunteers and 3 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $38K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$498K
to officers and key staff · 40% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 40% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 10.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $11
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$329K
25% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 25% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.1M
-38% vs prior year
Spent
$1.2M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$977K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.1M
FY2025▼ -38%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.1M
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.8M
FY2025$1.1M
Expenses
$1.2M
FY2025▼ -30%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$953K
FY2021$871K
FY2022$972K
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.8M
FY2025$1.2M
Net assets
$977K
FY2025▼ -11%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$870K
FY2021$1.0M
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$1.1M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$977K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2010.

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

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $999K Management & general 20% · $244K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

8 people listed on the 990; $498K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$230,202Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Programs
$166,867Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Researcher
$100,808Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jonathan Padgham’s $230K as Executive Director is at the 89th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1851 $1–10M environment 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jonathan Padgham$230,202$176,161$173,774$163,280$154,771$155,759
Sarah Schweizer$166,867$123,941$122,447$113,535$105,857$109,707
Mary Thomson-Hall$100,808—————

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 Start International INC executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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

Empowering scientists to inspire action on global environmental change.

Questions for Start International INC

Tap to ask. Start International INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Start International INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $999K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

START facilitates a wide variety of research, training, and education programs to strengthen scientific capacities and promote communication and outreach aimed at global change research communities in Africa and Asia.

$999Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$11

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$30K
Money outPt IX
$1.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$999K
Managementcol C$244K
Owns and owesPt X
$977K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$329K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$30K
Total revenueLn 12$1.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$328K
SavingsLn 2$745K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$329K
Net assetsLn 32$977K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 65
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.4M$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$344K$329K
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M$977K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$41K$41K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$514K$416K$98K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$134K$109K$26K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$20K$16K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$40K$36K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$32K$26K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$37K$37K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$208K$148K$60K
Office expensesLn 13$13K$9K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$7K$5K$2K
TravelLn 17$103K$103K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$82K$82K
InsuranceLn 23$4K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$10K$9K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.2M$999K$244K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.1M$1.2M−$121K$977K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.8M$1.8M$33K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.4M$1.4M−$5K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.0M$972K$52K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.0M$871K$148K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.1M$953K$119K$870K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,122,938 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,777,235$1,093,300
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $20,831$29,638
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,798,066$1,122,938
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $402,291$40,670
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $524,598$740,433
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $838,466$462,521
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,765,355$1,243,624
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $32,711−$120,686
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
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 $1,122,938 across 4 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,093,300
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,093,300
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $29,638$29,638
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $29,638$1,122,938
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,243,624 across 14 lines filed
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $40,670$40,670
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $415,626 · Management $98,125$513,751
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $108,748 · Management $25,674$134,422
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $16,393 · Management $3,870$20,263
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $35,658 · Management $4,386$40,044
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $26,433 · Management $5,520$31,953
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $36,515$36,515
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $147,894 · Management $59,677$207,571
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $9,048 · Management $4,419$13,467
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,950 · Management $1,650$6,600
IX-17 TravelPrograms $102,827$102,827
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $81,971$81,971
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $3,640$3,640
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $8,920 · Management $1,010$9,930
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $999,138 · Management $244,486 · Fundraising $0$1,243,624
Part X · Balance sheet $1,305,873 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $247,123$327,955
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $860,071$745,482
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $319,356$218,047
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$4,443
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $18,871$9,946
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,445,421$1,305,873
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $102,587$145,738
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $241,213$183,002
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $343,800$328,740
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,101,621$977,133
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,101,621$977,133
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,445,421$1,305,873
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $977,133 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,122,938
XI-2 Total expenses$1,243,624
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$120,686
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,101,621
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$3,802
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$977,133

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.