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The Small-Scale Sustainable Infrastructure Development Fund in

EIN 04-3582215 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ACHIEVE POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, S3IDF STRENGHTENS SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISES AND INVEST IN HIGH IMPACT EARLY-STAGE BUSINESSES TO IMPROVE LIVESS AND LIVELIHOODS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THROUGH FINANCING AND TECHNICAL AND BUSINESSES ASSISTANCE, S3IDF WORKS TO IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME WORKERS, ADDRESS GENDER INEQUITIES, AND GENERATE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS IN THE AGRICULTURE, WASTE/SANITATION, CLEAN ENERGY AND OTHER SECTORS. TO DISSEMINATE AND IMPLEMENT ITS WORK, S3IDF ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH NON- GOVERNMENTAL COMMUNITY AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. IT SHARES ITS TRADEMARKED "SOCIAL MERCHANT BANK APPROACH" TO IMPROVE THE PRO-POOR EFFECTIVENESS OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED BY INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AS WELL AS THE IMPACT INVESTING COMMUNITY.

Income
$226,442
Spending
$422,681
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
28.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$119,445, managing dir

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 87% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 7 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
  1. $276,989 spent. PROVIDES TECHNOLOGICAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING ASSISTANCE TO NONGOVERNMENTAL PRIVATE, COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
  2. $10,286 spent. TO DISSEMINATE THE SOCIAL MERCHANT BANK APPROACH BY USING THE LESSONS DERIVED FROM SMALL SCALE'S TRANSPARENT MONITORING AND EVALUATION WORK TO ACHIEVE A MUCH BROADER IMPACT BY ENCOURAGING ORGANIZATIONS TO ADPOT A SIMILAR APPROACH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.