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US Working Group Inc

EIN 03-0355315 · Atlanta, GA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZE RESPONSIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
13
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$201,173, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $729,772 spent. INCREASE CONSUMER DEMAND: THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL IS A VOLUNTARY, MARKET-BASED SYSTEM THAT RELIES ON COMPANIES AND THEIR CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE DEMAND FOR FSC-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS, WHICH IN TURN SUPPORTS GROWTH IN FOREST LANDS PROTECTED UNDER FSC STANDARDS. TO FACILITATE THESE EFFORTS, FSC INVESTS IN CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, ENGAGES COMPANIES TO DEVELOP PROGRESSIVE FOREST PRODUCTS PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND WORKS WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO PROMOTE SOUND POLICIES SUPPORTING FOREST STEWARDSHIP. FSC FOCUSES ITS INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT IN GREEN BUILDING, PAPER AND PRINTING, PACKAGING, FURNITURE, AND BIOENERGY.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN 2024, FSC EXPANDED ITS ONLINE PRESENCE TO 22,500 FOLLOWERS ACROSS LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK, AND INSTAGRAM HELPING TO AMPLIFY KEY MESSAGES AND REACH BROADER AUDIENCES. THE FOREST WEEK CAMPAIGN SAW THE HIGHEST ENGAGEMENT AMONG GLOBAL PARTNERS, DEMONSTRATING GROWING CONSUMER INTEREST AND CONNECTION TO THE MISSION. FSC ALSO UPDATED MARKETING MATERIALS AND PROMOTED THE BRAND AT MAJOR TRADE SHOWS TO INCREASE VISIBILITY AND INTEREST, WHILE PARTNERING WITH LEADING COMPANIES TO SPOTLIGHT FSC CERTIFICATION IN THE MARKETPLACE.
  2. $715,456 spent. ENHANCE SYSTEM INTEGRITY: THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL SETS STANDARDS FOR RESPONSIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFICATION. OUR SYSTEM IS FOUNDED ON THESE STANDARDS, MAKING THEIR INTEGRITY, RELEVANCE, AND IMPACT OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES. THIS INCLUDES THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS AND POLICIES, AS WELL AS STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TO ENSURE OUR NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK REFLECTS THE CONSENSUS OF OUR DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN 2024, FSC PROTECTED THE CREDIBILITY OF IT'S SYSTEM BY MANAGING 12 TRADEMARK CASES, CLOSING 4 AND ACTIVELY OVERSEEING 8. FSC ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF U.S. STAKEHOLDERS TO PREVENT POLICY CHANGES THAT WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AUDIT COSTS AND LEGAL RISKS FOR CERTIFICATE HOLDERS, AND PROVIDED TECHNICAL INPUT ON POLICY CONSULTATIONS TO REDUCE LEGAL CONFLICTS AND FINANCIAL BURDENS. FSC ALSO IMPROVED TRACKING OF CERTIFICATE LOSS BY CONDUCTING EXIT INTERVIEWS AND DEVELOPING A MORE ROBUST DATA SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS EMERGING TRENDS.
  3. $311,360 spent. INCREASE DOMESTIC ACREAGE: INCREASING THE ACREAGE OF FORESTS CERTIFIED TO FSC'S HIGH STANDARDS IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR MISSION. TO ENSURE EQUITY, FSC PROMOTES CERTIFICATION ACROSS LAND OWNERSHIP CLASSES, INCLUDING AMONG FAMILY FORESTS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN 2024, FSC ADDED 358,825 HECTARES TO THE SYSTEM AS FOREST MANAGERS JOINED OR EXPANDED THEIR CERTIFICATION IN RESPONSE TO MILL DEMAND. THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED PUBLIC LAND AGENCIES THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, BOARD PARTICIPATION, FIELD VISITS, AND DIRECT OUTREACH TO SUPPORT BOTH ADOPTION AND RETENTION OF FSC CERTIFICATION. ADDITIONALLY, FSC MONITORED MARKET SHIFTS AND MILL CLOSURES TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO CERTIFICATION AND SHAPE FUTURE OUTREACH AND POLICY INITIATIVES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.