501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.1M paid to officers and key staff.
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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.0M a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.1M
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $25K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$11.1M
41% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 41% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$34.6M
-9% vs prior year
Spent
$37.1M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$15.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$34.6M
FY2023▼ -9%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$28.4M
FY2021$35.6M
FY2022$37.8M
FY2023$34.6M
FY2024$40.9M
Expenses
$37.1M
FY2023▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$26.5M
FY2021$33.3M
FY2022$40.2M
FY2023$37.1M
FY2024$45.5M
Net assets
$15.9M
FY2023▲ +292%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.3M
FY2021$6.4M
FY2022$4.1M
FY2023$15.9M
FY2024$8.2M

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

Give Claim
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 Nov 1982.

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

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $29.9M Management & general 16% · $6.0M Fundraising 3% · $1.2M

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

26 people listed on the 990; $2.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Ceo- Executive
$312,900Pt VII · Sec A
President (as of 01/16/23)
$288,333Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Vice President, Programs
$253,481Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Finance
$207,461Pt VII · Sec A
Director Cg USA
$197,950Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, HR & Admin
$185,436Pt VII · Sec A
Global Director, IT
$177,174Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, Strategy
$173,297Pt VII · Sec A

Shamil Idriss’s $329K as CEO is at the 68th 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
Shamil Idriss$328,557$312,900$298,000$298,000$240,000
Marjorie Williams$307,728$288,333———
Isameldein Ghanim——$49,543$297,255$285,000
Lena Slachmuijlder$233,994$253,481$244,507$234,202$226,720
Jennifer Parker$209,832$197,950$185,000——
Wasim Khan$209,302$207,461$195,718$187,469$181,480
Michael Watt$207,014————
Jacqueline Oburu$182,040$185,436$174,940$167,567$162,214

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 Search for Common Ground 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

Transforms conflict in Asia by engaging youth, media, and institutions through dialogue, capacity building, and joint activities.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $24.2M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

In africa, SFCG works to transform conflict across more than 12 countries. Our projects involve multiple stakeholders in activities including capacity building, dialogue, joint activities, and media outreach. Our work involves youth, women, civil society organizations and institutional partners.

$15.1Mprogram expense
02

In asia, SFCG works to transform conflict across more than five countries. Our programs engage youth, media and institutional partners through dialogue, capacity building, joint activities, including media production and outreach.

$6.3Mprogram expense
03

In the middle east, SFCG works to transform conflict across five countries. Our programs bring together conflicting parties for dialogue, capacity building and joint projects. Our work involves media production and outreach, engaging youth, women and institutional stakeholders.

$2.7Mprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$25K
Grants paid · 22 grants · $5.0M · 2022–2024
American Bar AssociationIL · FY2024$1,522,513
Hopewell FundDC · FY2024$270,000
Plessy and Ferguson FoundationLA · FY2024$211,612
Soliya INCNY · FY2024$180,000
How to Build Up INCCA · FY2024$88,968
New Lines Inst for Strategy & Policy LLCFY2024$75,000
The Committee of SeventyPA · FY2024$24,500
Kroc Institute for Peace and JusticeCA · FY2024$24,481
American Bar AssociationIL · FY2023$1,581,740
Everyday Peace IndicatorsVA · FY2023$141,397
American UniversityDC · FY2023$123,998
Grameen Foundation USADC · FY2023$87,795
How to Build Up INCCA · FY2023$20,000
Kroc Institute for Peace and JusticeCA · FY2023$13,498
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,795
See all 22 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$34.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$34.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$6K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Money outPt IX
$37.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$29.9M
Managementcol C$6.0M
Fundraisingcol D$1.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$15.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$12.5M
Total assetsLn 16$27.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$11.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
26
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$34.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$20.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$112K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$985
Investment incomeLn 3$6K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$34.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$12.5M
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$12.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$7.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$645K
Other assetsLn 15$530K
Total assetsLn 16$27.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$11.1M
Net assetsLn 32$15.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 588
VolunteersI 611
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$9.4M$12.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$7.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$24K$645K
Total assetsLn 16$13.0M$27.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.9M$11.1M
Net assetsLn 32$4.1M$15.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$2.3M$2.3M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$12K$12K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$3.0M$3.0M
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.0M$288K$1.7M
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$11.6M$9.4M$1.7M$554K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$171K$51K$119K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.7M$2.8M$902K
Payroll taxesLn 10$0
Management feesLn 11a$3.5M$2.2M$795K$483K
Legal feesLn 11b$76K$36K$32K$8K
Accounting feesLn 11c$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$1.3M$981K$292K$13K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$735K$512K$223K$185
TravelLn 17$2.2M$1.9M$312K$44K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$480K$434K$44K$2K
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$11K$11K
InsuranceLn 23$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$5.1M$5.1M$30K$5K
All other expensesLn 24e$865K$900K−$93K$58K
Total functional expensesLn 25$37.1M$29.9M$6.0M$1.2M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $40.9M$45.5M−$4.6M$8.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $34.6M$37.1M−$2.5M$15.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $37.8M$40.2M−$2.3M$4.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $35.6M$33.3M$2.2M$6.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $28.4M$26.5M$1.9M$4.3M 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 M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $34,618,544 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $37,799,254$34,609,752
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$985
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $46,448$5,696
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$2,111
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $37,845,702$34,618,544
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $6,452,326$5,342,691
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $17,043,909$17,409,080
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $16,653,875$14,336,002
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $40,150,110$37,087,773
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,304,408−$2,469,229
Part VI · Governance 15 of 16 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members15
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 $34,618,544 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$20,758,888
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$13,850,864
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$111,810
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$34,609,752
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $985$985
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $5,696$5,696
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $2,111$2,111
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $985 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $7,807$34,618,544
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $37,087,773 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $2,300,253$2,300,253
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $11,795$11,795
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $3,030,643$3,030,643
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $287,829 · Management $1,671,851$1,959,680
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $9,386,168 · Management $1,657,670 · Fundraising $553,550$11,597,388
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $51,468 · Management $119,037$170,505
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,779,980 · Management $901,527$3,681,507
IX-10 Payroll taxes$0
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $2,219,369 · Management $794,567 · Fundraising $482,710$3,496,646
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $35,802 · Management $31,791 · Fundraising $8,217$75,810
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $980,518 · Management $291,828 · Fundraising $12,665$1,285,011
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $511,571 · Management $223,332 · Fundraising $185$735,088
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,887,512 · Management $311,629 · Fundraising $44,267$2,243,408
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $434,233 · Management $43,909 · Fundraising $1,631$479,773
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $10,672$10,672
IX-23 Insurance$0
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,109,178 · Management $30,023 · Fundraising $5,213$5,144,414
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $899,893 · Management −$92,716 · Fundraising $58,003$865,180
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $29,926,212 · Management $5,995,120 · Fundraising $1,166,441$37,087,773
Part X · Balance sheet $27,012,174 assets, 24 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $209,233; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $9,434,466$12,527,682
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $530,795$1,427,927
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,345,255$3,086,313
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$362,381
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $458,283$658,723
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $23,704$644,931
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$7,564,934
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,024,212$530,050
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $12,996,715$27,012,174
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,775,659$2,629,531
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$427,705
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $6,166,306$8,067,320
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $8,941,965$11,124,556
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,054,750$8,885,707
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,000,000$7,001,911
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,054,750$15,887,618
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $12,996,715$27,012,174
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $15,887,618 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$34,618,544
XI-2 Total expenses$37,087,773
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,469,229
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,054,750
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$5,406,879
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$8,895,218
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$15,887,618

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

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