The SDSN Association works to mobilize the world's universities for action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement; empower societies through free online education; and translate scientific evidence and ideas into solutions and accountability.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.1M 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

FY2021 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $186K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.1M
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $5.5M
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.7M
37% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 37% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$13.2M
+40% vs prior year
Spent
$11.4M
To programs
87%
Net assets
$6.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$13.2M
FY2021▲ +40%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$9.5M
FY2021$13.2M
FY2022$11.4M
FY2023$12.1M
FY2024$9.6M
FY2025$9.2M
Expenses
$11.4M
FY2021▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$9.7M
FY2021$11.4M
FY2022$10.7M
FY2023$11.1M
FY2024$11.7M
FY2025$11.4M
Net assets
$6.3M
FY2021▲ +41%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.5M
FY2021$6.3M
FY2022$7.0M
FY2023$7.9M
FY2024$5.8M
FY2025$3.6M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 2015.

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

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $9.9M Management & general 11% · $1.3M Fundraising 2% · $181K

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

17 people listed on the 990; $1.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$273,297Pt VII · Sec A
Head of New York Office
$166,211Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Network Program
$142,975Pt VII · Sec A
VP Educ / Sdg Academy Dir
$141,107Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance and Operations
$110,429Pt VII · Sec A
Head of Sdsn USA
$108,773Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Mdp
$104,882Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$72,488Pt VII · Sec A

Emma Torres’s $223K as VP Americas and Head of NY Office is at the 93rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3869 $1–10M human services 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Guido Schmidt-Traub————$273,297$206,208
Emma Torres$222,895$202,217$175,998$167,439$166,211$164,440
Chandrika Bahadur———$129,675$141,107$220,500
Wing Woo$177,498$174,103$168,004$163,050——
Vanessa Fajans-Turner—————$176,070
Stacey Clark$161,680$159,236$155,122$152,776——
Maria Cortes Puch$149,642$155,503$153,955$161,598$142,975—
Cecil Haverkamp$127,363$138,191$130,202$160,777——

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

Helps communities solve problems to achieve sustainable development.

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3 programs · $9.9M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The Secretariat

The SDSN association hosted this network, which engaged nearly 1,600 member organizations from around the world on policy related research and projects on the SDGS. This included supporting several regional networks, directing policy research and advocacy work on issues related to sustainable development in urban areas; support to…

$7.2Mprogram expense
02

The SDSN association hosted the above programs and hosted other programs of wellbeing: the production of the world happiness report and the convening of the global happiness council. Both of these programs required partnerships with several academic and government organizations from around the world.

$1.8Mprogram expense
03

The Sdg Academy

The SDSN association hosted an online education initiative, creating and curating the best education content on the sustainable development goals. Since its inception, the SDG academy has reached over 700,000 enrollments in over 193 countries through our massive open online courses and educational videos.

$954Kprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 8 funders →
Grants paid · 15 grants · $4.2M · 2019–2024

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$13.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$12.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$871K
Other incomeLn 4–11$8K
Money outPt IX
$11.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.9M
Managementcol C$1.3M
Fundraisingcol D$181K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.0M
Total assetsLn 16$10.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$12.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$871K
Investment incomeLn 3$992
Other incomeLn 4–11$8K
Total revenueLn 12$13.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.8M
SavingsLn 2$4.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$34K
Other assetsLn 15$90K
Total assetsLn 16$10.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.7M
Net assetsLn 32$6.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 545
VolunteersI 68
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.7M$6.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$36K$34K
Total assetsLn 16$8.8M$10.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.3M$3.7M
Net assetsLn 32$4.5M$6.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.2M$1.2M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$1.9M$1.9M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$680K$558K$100K$22K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.8M$3.1M$563K$121K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$72K$59K$11K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$751K$616K$111K$24K
Payroll taxesLn 10$341K$280K$50K$11K
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$5K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$123K$34K$89K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.4M$1.4M$33K
Office expensesLn 13$377K$195K$181K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$11K$11K
OccupancyLn 16$415K$313K$102K
TravelLn 17$12K$12K$27
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$14K$14K$55
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$23K$23K
InsuranceLn 23$27K$27K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$219K$218K$924
Total functional expensesLn 25$11.4M$9.9M$1.3M$181K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $9.2M$11.4M−$2.2M$3.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $9.6M$11.7M−$2.2M$5.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $12.1M$11.1M$956K$7.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $11.4M$10.7M$692K$7.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $13.2M$11.4M$1.8M$6.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $9.5M$9.7M−$268K$4.5M 990 PDF

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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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $13,246,367 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,952,158$12,366,509
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $506,512$871,347
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3,481$992
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $14,077$7,519
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,476,228$13,246,367
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,420,733$3,085,863
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,799,878$5,666,412
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,523,544$2,659,056
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $9,744,155$11,411,331
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$267,927$1,835,036
Part VI · Governance 7 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members7
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 $13,246,367 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,737,159
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$9,629,350
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$12,366,509
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $871,347$871,347
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $992$992
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $7,519$7,519
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $878,866 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $992$13,246,367
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $11,411,331 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,194,468$1,194,468
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $1,891,395$1,891,395
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $557,942 · Management $100,062 · Fundraising $21,545$679,549
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,139,358 · Management $563,018 · Fundraising $121,228$3,823,604
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $58,931 · Management $10,569 · Fundraising $2,276$71,776
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $616,426 · Management $110,550 · Fundraising $23,804$750,780
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $279,733 · Management $50,168 · Fundraising $10,802$340,703
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $5,370 · Management $5,569$10,939
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $33,640 · Management $89,328$122,968
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,394,450 · Management $33,078$1,427,528
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $194,856 · Management $180,920 · Fundraising $1,149$376,925
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $11,195$11,195
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $313,119 · Management $101,534$414,653
IX-17 TravelPrograms $12,022 · Management $27$12,049
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $13,862 · Management $55$13,917
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $22,803$22,803
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $26,956$26,956
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $218,199 · Management $924$219,123
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,934,966 · Management $1,295,561 · Fundraising $180,804$11,411,331
Part X · Balance sheet $10,017,542 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,505,657$1,804,999
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5,208,082$4,209,074
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,776,680$3,782,466
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $134,440$96,931
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $36,467$33,744
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $91,780$90,328
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $8,753,106$10,017,542
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,208,584$1,407,155
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,809,751$2,321,798
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $281,218$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,299,553$3,728,953
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,392,110$2,440,663
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,061,443$3,847,926
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,453,553$6,288,589
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $8,753,106$10,017,542
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,288,589 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$13,246,367
XI-2 Total expenses$11,411,331
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,835,036
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,453,553
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,288,589

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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