Transfair USA FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Oakland, CA501(c)(3)Since 1996InternationalEIN 41-1848081Revenue $20.0M in FY2023

On file with the IRSfairtradecertified.org360 Grand Avenue 311, 94610-4840 · Oakland, CATax-exempt since May 1997Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The fair trade certified label combines a range of economic, environmental, and rigorous social criteria that are independently audited as part of fair trade USA certification.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$3.3M 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

FY2023 · 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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.3M a year · 6% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
Looks good: 78% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$3.3M
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $242K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.4M
16% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 16% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 8 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
$20.0M
-20% vs prior year
Spent
$22.3M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$11.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$20.0M
FY2023▼ -20%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$20.8M
FY2021$24.0M
FY2022$25.1M
FY2023$20.0M
FY2024$22.2M
Expenses
$22.3M
FY2023▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$20.0M
FY2021$19.4M
FY2022$23.8M
FY2023$22.3M
FY2024$20.0M
Net assets
$11.9M
FY2023▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.3M
FY2021$12.9M
FY2022$14.1M
FY2023$11.9M
FY2024$14.1M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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 May 1997.

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

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $17.3M Management & general 15% · $3.4M Fundraising 7% · $1.5M

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

25 people listed on the 990; $3.3M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$406,526Pt VII · Sec A
President (thru 11/23)
$323,042Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Information Officer (thru 10/23)
$291,205Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer (thru 10/23)
$289,463Pt VII · Sec A
Head of People & Culture (thru 11/23)
$284,645Pt VII · Sec A
CFO and Treasurer
$257,672Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Engineering
$217,446Pt VII · Sec A
Head of Commerical & Marketing
$217,370Pt VII · Sec A

Paul Rice’s $434K as CEO (thru 9/24) is at the 82nd 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
Paul Rice$434,031$406,526$440,700$344,537$237,500
Larry Ruff——$328,094$272,983$154,943
Lawrence Ruff—$323,042———
Tammy Hermann—$291,205$284,550$54,500—
Leilani Latimer—$289,463$290,000$55,000—
Jeanne-Marie Ryan—$284,645$219,057——
Jose Carlos Ruiz$284,078$257,672$242,043$213,775$160,076
Sugumar Raman$279,252$83,797———

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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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

Certifies products meeting strict economic, environmental, and social standards.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $14.7M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

For years, the fair trade certified program has driven change through our rigorous standards, fair trade community development funds, and minimum price guarantees. These mechanisms have been critical to protecting workers, driving financial stability, and enabling communities to make life-changing investments.

$7.4Mprogram expense
02

In 2023 we made significant progress in our technological transformation, innovating our tools and programs to enable future growth and impact at scale. Part of this included the evolution of our factory program, which led to a dramatic increase in new factories joining our certification.

$4.0Mprogram expense
03

Rigorous standards are how we fulfill our mission and create trading partnerships founded on transparency, fairness, and economic empowerment. In addition to our robust standards, our vast experience in multiple commodities, our stepped approach to full compliance, and unparalleled in-field support services are some of the reasons our…

$3.3Mprogram 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 · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$242K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$20.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$19.4M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$493K
Investment incomeLn 3$152K
Money outPt IX
$22.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$17.3M
Managementcol C$3.4M
Fundraisingcol D$1.5M
Owns and owesPt X
$11.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.9M
Total assetsLn 16$14.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
25
listed · VII A
PaidVII A15
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$493K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$19.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$152K
Other incomeLn 4–11$29K
Total revenueLn 12$20.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.3M
SavingsLn 2$3.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$7.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$119K
Other assetsLn 15$652
Total assetsLn 16$14.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M
Net assetsLn 32$11.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5131
VolunteersI 625
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$10.9M$7.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$216K$119K
Total assetsLn 16$17.8M$14.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.7M$2.4M
Net assetsLn 32$14.1M$11.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$12K$12K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.6M$2.0M$393K$183K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$10.4M$8.1M$1.6M$728K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$348K$272K$52K$24K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.1M$870K$167K$78K
Payroll taxesLn 10$940K$733K$141K$66K
Legal feesLn 11b$65K$65K
Accounting feesLn 11c$92K$92K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$4.4M$3.5M$665K$310K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$105K$100K$5K
Information technologyLn 14$1.2M$984K$182K$82K
TravelLn 17$276K$221K$30K$26K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$177K$169K$285$8K
InterestLn 20$11K$8K$2K$711
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$105K$81K$16K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$84K$65K$13K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$8K$7K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$217K$179K$31K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$22.3M$17.3M$3.4M$1.5M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $22.2M$20.0M$2.2M$14.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $20.0M$22.3M−$2.2M$11.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $25.1M$23.8M$1.3M$14.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $24.0M$19.4M$4.6M$12.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $20.8M$20.0M$783K$8.3M 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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $20,049,420 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,849,158$492,530
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $22,280,407$19,376,487
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$151,577
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$28,826
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $25,129,565$20,049,420
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $8,000$12,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $15,626,893$15,426,346
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $8,146,903$6,822,411
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $23,781,796$22,260,757
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,347,769−$2,211,337
Part VI · Governance 8 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members8
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 $20,049,420 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$492,530
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$492,530
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $19,376,487$19,376,487
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $151,577$151,577
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $28,826$28,826
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $19,376,487 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $180,403$20,049,420
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $22,260,757 across 18 lines filed
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $12,000$12,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $2,042,785 · Management $392,843 · Fundraising $183,327$2,618,955
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $8,115,140 · Management $1,560,604 · Fundraising $728,282$10,404,026
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $271,511 · Management $52,214 · Fundraising $24,366$348,091
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $870,110 · Management $167,329 · Fundraising $78,087$1,115,526
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $733,004 · Management $140,962 · Fundraising $65,782$939,748
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $64,689$64,689
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $92,500$92,500
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $3,459,762 · Management $665,339 · Fundraising $310,491$4,435,592
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $99,578 · Fundraising $5,113$104,691
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $983,818 · Management $182,040 · Fundraising $81,504$1,247,362
IX-17 TravelPrograms $221,087 · Management $29,745 · Fundraising $25,602$276,434
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $168,637 · Management $285 · Fundraising $8,096$177,018
IX-20 InterestPrograms $8,258 · Management $1,633 · Fundraising $711$10,602
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $81,457 · Management $16,104 · Fundraising $7,009$104,570
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $65,223 · Management $12,543 · Fundraising $5,853$83,619
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $7,050 · Management $1,200$8,250
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $178,651 · Management $31,293 · Fundraising $7,140$217,084
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $17,318,071 · Management $3,411,323 · Fundraising $1,531,363$22,260,757
Part X · Balance sheet $14,293,733 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $9,702,583$4,287,511
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,204,037$3,576,948
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $541,414$249,891
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,328,097$5,402,646
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $806,406$657,023
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $215,643$119,062
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $652$652
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $17,798,832$14,293,733
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,497,540$2,114,264
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $76,260$242,260
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,650,286$2,356,524
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $12,183,164$10,967,788
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,965,382$969,421
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $14,148,546$11,937,209
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $17,798,832$14,293,733
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $11,937,209 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$20,049,420
XI-2 Total expenses$22,260,757
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,211,337
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$14,148,546
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$11,937,209

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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