Sovrin Foundation FY2020 filing

Not tax-deductible

Salt Lake Cty, UT501(c)(4)Since 2016Community Development EIN 81-3702995Revenue $777K in FY2020

On file with the IRSsovrin.org170 S Main St Ste 1000, 84101-1653 · Salt Lake Cty, UTTax-exempt since Jun 2018

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The purpose of the foundation (Sovrin) is to provide a global public utility for self-sovereign (i.e. user controlled) internet identity that streamlines interactions and enables stronger levels of trust among all individuals, organizations and things.

501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
38¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$196K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
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
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list 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 surplus $304K a year · 55% 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
38%
of spending
Concern: 38% of spending went to programs; under 50%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$196K
to officers and key staff · 20% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 20% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.6 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$2.1M
×36 of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 3600% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$777K
Spent
$968K
To programs
38%
Net assets
−$2.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$777K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$777K
FY2021$91K
FY2022$120K
FY2023$94K
FY2024$22K
FY2025$2.2M
Expenses
$968K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$968K
FY2021$133K
FY2022$106K
FY2023$83K
FY2024$110K
FY2025$63K
Net assets
−$2.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$2.0M
FY2021−$2.1M
FY2022−$2.0M
FY2023−$2.0M
FY2024−$2.1M
FY2025$0

From the FY2020 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 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 Jun 2018.

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

Where the money goes

38 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 38% · $370K Management & general 26% · $247K Fundraising 36% · $350K

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

22 people listed on the 990; $196K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$133,750Pt VII · Sec A
$52,500Pt VII · Sec A
$10,020Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee/Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Heather C Dahl’s $134K as CEO is at the 98th percentile of top reported officer pay among 168 <$100K community development 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.

See Sovrin Foundation 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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II2 listed

Programs and updates

Builds a global utility for user-controlled internet identity, fostering trust.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $370K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Network Growth

1. Attended and presented information at many conferences to educate and encourage development and adoption of Sovrin Network.2. Continued to cultivate open source software development community within Linux Foundation's Hyperledger Indy and Ursa.3.

$258Kprogram expense
02

Network Development and Operations

1. Exploited the Sovrin Network for public use and billed for ledger write activity2. Operated network providing oversight and coordination among the Stewards operating nodes

$111Kprogram expense
03

Identity for All

1. Developed written resources to assist humanitarian organizations in adopting self-sovereign identity2. Published a paper on Guardianship in SSI3. Provided expert consultation to help the technology industry understand the needs of humanitarian organizations in providing digital identity to those people they serve4.

$2Kprogram expense

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$777K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$754K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17K
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Money outPt IX
$968K
Ln 25
Programscol B$370K
Managementcol C$247K
Fundraisingcol D$350K
Owns and owesPt X
−$2.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$46K
Total assetsLn 16$60K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$754K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17K
Investment incomeLn 3$4
Other incomeLn 4–11$6K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$777K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3K
SavingsLn 2$43K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$46K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$60K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.1M
Net assetsLn 32−$2.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 6100
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$222K$46K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$412K$60K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2M$2.1M
Net assetsLn 32−$1.8M−$2.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$196K$122K$74K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$131K$131K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$9K$9K
Payroll taxesLn 10$31K$24K$7K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$387K$22K$22K$344K
Accounting feesLn 11c$800$800
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$121K$52K$67K$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$955$955
Information technologyLn 14$625$352$273
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$42K$42K
TravelLn 17$15K$9K$851$5K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$30K$235$30K$412
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$362$24$318$20
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$968K$370K$247K$350K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $2.2M$63K$2.1M$0 990 PDF
FY2024 $22K$110K−$88K−$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $94K$83K$10K−$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $120K$106K$14K−$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $91K$133K−$43K−$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $777K$968K−$190K−$2.0M 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $777,269 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,371,318$753,966
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $173,175$17,395
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $198$4
I-11 Other revenue$5,904
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,544,691$777,269
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,853,368$367,553
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,078,091$600,079
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,931,459$967,632
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,386,768−$190,363
Part VI · Governance 19 of 22 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members19
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $777,269 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $5,904 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$753,966
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$753,966
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $17,395$17,395
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4$4
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-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $17,395 · Excluded from tax $5,908$777,269
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $967,632 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $122,363 · Management $73,907$196,270
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $131,076$131,076
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $9,335$9,335
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $24,178 · Management $6,694$30,872
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $21,572 · Management $21,577 · Fundraising $343,845$386,994
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $800$800
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $52,404 · Management $67,421 · Fundraising $1,089$120,914
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $955$955
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $352 · Management $273$625
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $42,000$42,000
IX-17 TravelPrograms $8,872 · Management $851 · Fundraising $5,041$14,764
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 InterestPrograms $235 · Management $29,815 · Fundraising $412$30,462
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $2,203$2,203
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $24 · Management $318 · Fundraising $20$362
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $370,411 · Management $246,814 · Fundraising $350,407$967,632
Part X · Balance sheet $60,001 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $221,888$3,224
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $125$43,093
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $177,614$13,684
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $12,000$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $411,627$60,001
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $352,135$33,801
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$1,360,000
X-25 Other liabilities$179,951
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,236,022$2,073,752
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$1,824,395−$2,013,751
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $411,627$60,001
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$2,013,751 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$777,269
XI-2 Total expenses$967,632
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$190,363
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$1,824,395
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1,007
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$2,013,751

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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