Ubongo International FY2023 filing

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To use top quality, localized edutainment to help africa's 440 million kids learn, and to leverage their learning to change their lives.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
95¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$128K 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
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $6.1M a year · 57% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
95%
of spending
Looks good: 95% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$128K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
13 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 13.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $1.8M
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$192K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$10.3M
+62% vs prior year
Spent
$7.8M
To programs
95%
Net assets
$10.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$10.3M
FY2023▲ +62%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$5.0M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$6.4M
FY2023$10.3M
FY2024$29.2M
Expenses
$7.8M
FY2023▲ +102%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$3.8M
FY2023$7.8M
FY2024$7.2M
Net assets
$10.1M
FY2023▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.9M
FY2021$5.0M
FY2022$7.5M
FY2023$10.1M
FY2024$32.0M

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 Mar 2017.

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

Where the money goes

95 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 95% · $7.4M Management & general 4% · $325K Fundraising 1% · $58K

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

8 people listed on the 990; $128K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO and President
$127,694Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Founder and Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Mwasi Wilmore’s $135K as CEO and President is at the 5th percentile of top reported officer pay among 749 $10–100M arts & culture 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2020
Mwasi Wilmore$135,090$127,694$98,898—
Nisha Ferguson Ligon———$21,342

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 Ubongo International executive salaries →

3 open jobs right now. See them →

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 African children through localized edutainment to learn and improve their lives.

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1 program · $7.4M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

The organization creates and distributes edutainment for kids in africa and around the world. It also assists sister and partner organizations in africa to fund creation and distribution of effective edutainment.

$7.4Mprogram 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
Greater HorizonsFY2024$1.0M
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$1.8M
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$10.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$147K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7K
Money outPt IX
$7.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$7.4M
Managementcol C$325K
Fundraisingcol D$58K
Owns and owesPt X
$10.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.5M
Total assetsLn 16$10.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$192K
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7K
Investment incomeLn 3$4K
Other incomeLn 4–11$147K
Total revenueLn 12$10.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$7.3M
SavingsLn 2$1.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$8.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$37K
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$10.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$192K
Net assetsLn 32$10.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Grants to other countriesSch F Pt II–III$3.3M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.6M$8.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$32K$37K
Total assetsLn 16$7.6M$10.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$96K$192K
Net assetsLn 32$7.5M$10.1M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$3.3M$3.3M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$128K$48K$80K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$568$568
Other employee benefitsLn 9$46K$41K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$10K$4K$6K
Legal feesLn 11b$84K$77K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$139K$139K$31
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.0M$1.8M$101K$51K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$298K$294K$4K$740
Office expensesLn 13$11K$11K$147
Information technologyLn 14$230K$198K$30K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$55K$47K$8K
TravelLn 17$317K$285K$31K$1K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$190K$182K$5K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$42K$42K
InsuranceLn 23$1K$154$897
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$867K$820K$47K$0
All other expensesLn 24e$1K$1K$53
Total functional expensesLn 25$7.8M$7.4M$325K$58K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 17, 2025 $29.2M$7.2M$22.0M$32.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 12, 2024 $10.3M$7.8M$2.5M$10.1M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Dec 4, 2023 $6.4M$3.8M$2.5M$7.5M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Oct 28, 2022 $2.8M$2.8M$82K$5.0M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2021 $5.0M$1.6M$3.4M$4.9M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $10,294,709 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,084,892$10,136,267
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $6,726$7,375
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,294$4,148
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $258,028$146,919
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,350,940$10,294,709
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,019,509$3,346,587
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $106,912$183,616
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,717,381$4,234,970
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,843,802$7,765,173
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,507,138$2,529,536
Part VI · Governance 6 of 7 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members6
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 $10,294,709 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$10,136,267
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$10,136,267
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,375$7,375
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,148$4,148
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $151,540$151,540
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission −$4,621−$4,621
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $154,294 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $4,148$10,294,709
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $7,765,173 across 18 lines filed
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $3,346,587$3,346,587
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $47,681 · Management $80,013$127,694
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $568$568
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $40,675 · Management $4,868$45,543
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $3,648 · Management $6,163$9,811
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $77,428 · Management $6,343$83,771
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $139,365 · Management $31$139,396
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,846,815 · Management $100,692 · Fundraising $51,383$1,998,890
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $293,669 · Management $3,770 · Fundraising $740$298,179
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $11,034 · Management $147$11,181
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $197,571 · Management $30,164 · Fundraising $2,299$230,034
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $47,064 · Management $7,943$55,007
IX-17 TravelPrograms $284,882 · Management $30,881 · Fundraising $1,258$317,021
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $182,408 · Management $5,453 · Fundraising $1,995$189,856
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $42,212$42,212
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $154 · Management $897$1,051
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $819,855 · Management $47,153 · Fundraising $0$867,008
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,311 · Management $53$1,364
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $7,382,927 · Management $324,571 · Fundraising $57,675$7,765,173
Part X · Balance sheet $10,248,775 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $4,645,727$7,270,891
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$1,250,755
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,804,656$1,571,446
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $19,851$34,613
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$3,659
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $32,155$37,199
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $112,297$80,212
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $8,717$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,623,403$10,248,775
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $96,052$191,888
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $96,052$191,888
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $7,527,351$10,056,887
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $7,527,351$10,056,887
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,623,403$10,248,775
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $10,056,887 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$10,294,709
XI-2 Total expenses$7,765,173
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,529,536
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$7,527,351
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$10,056,887

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

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