Synergos Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SYNERGOS INSTITUTE ("SYNERGOS") IS A GLOBAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS SOLVE COMPLEX ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD BY ADVANCING BRIDGING LEADERSHIP, WHICH BUILDS TRUST AND COLLECTIVE ACTION. WE WORK ON ISSUES SUCH AS HEALTH, NUTRITION, AGRICULTURE, AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT.
- Income
- $5.6 million
- Spending
- $8.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 28.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $332,273, president & ceo
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 28.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $3.0 million spent. ETHIOPIA - SYNERGOS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, WITH A FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AGRICULTURAL GROWTH IS A KEY DRIVER OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY AND IS IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVING INTERCONNECTED GOALS OF FOOD SECURITY, POVERTY REDUCTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF SMALLHOLDER FARMER AND THEIR RESPECTIVE FAMILIES.
- $2.2 million spent. NETWORKS - SYNERGOS MANAGES GLOBAL AND REGIONAL NETWORKS OF LEADERS IN PHILANTHROPY AND CIVIL SOCIETY, INCLUDING THE GLOBAL PHILANTHROPISTS CIRCLE (GPC), THE PIONEERS NETWORK OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS IN THE ARAB WORLD AND THE GLOBAL SYNERGOS SENIOR FELLOWS. THE GPC WORKS WITH PRIVATE PHILANTHROPISTS TO LEVERAGE THEIR RESOURCES AND INCREASE THE IMPACT OF THEIR PHILANTHROPY. THE ARAB WORLD PROGRAM WORKS WITH LEADERS IN EGYPT, PALESTINE, JORDAN, LEBANON, AND MORROCCO WHO LEAD SOCIAL ENTERPRISES THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SYNERGOS' SENIOR FELLOWS IS A GLOBAL NETWORK OF CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING PROVERTY AND INEQUITY.
- $788,836 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OPARTNERSHIPS - SYNERGOS BUILDS COLLABORATIONS ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL IMPORTANCE, HELPING PARTNERS CREATE SYSTEMIC CHANGE AND IMPROVED LIVES THROUGH BRIDGING LEADERSHIP. IN NIGERIA, SYNERGOS WORKS WITH STATE MINISTRIES OF AGRICULTURE AND OTHERS TO ENACT MULTISTAKEHOLDER APPROACHES TO AGRICULTURE, ENGAGING GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND SMALLHOLDER FARMS. IN ETHIOPIA, SYNERGOS SUPPORTS THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE TO ENGAGE AGRICULTURE SECTOR PARTNERS, INCLUDING EFFORTS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND HOUSEHOLD INCOMES OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIALIZATION CLUSTERS FOR HORTICULTURE. IN SOUTH AFRICA, SYNERGOS IS DEVELOPING MUNICIPAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FOR IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN COMMUNTIES. IN BANGLADESH, SYNERGOS IS LEADING A COALITION OF PARTNERS FROM ACROSS SECTORS TO SCALE INTEGRATED COMMUNITY-BASED CHILDCARE CENTERS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING DROWNING PREVENTION. IN BRAZIL, SYNERGOS STRENGTHENS COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP CAPACITY FOR IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS AND WELLBEING OF THE COUNTRY'S PUBLIC HEALTHCARE WORKERS. IN MENA, SYNERGOS PROMOTES SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CHALLENGES INCLUDING A YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM IN TUNISIA. IN MEXICO, SYNERGOS PROVIDES TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO LEADERS FROM ACROSS SECTORS FOR COLLABORATIVE ACTION ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. THESE COUNTRY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE DRIVEN BY BRIDGING LEADERSHIP AS THE ORGANIZATION'S APPROACH TO EFFECTING LASTING SOCIAL CHANGE ON COMPLEX CHALLENGES OF POVERTY AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE.
- $396,026 spent. NIGERIA - SYNERGOS WORKS IN NIGERIA TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS. OUR PROGRAMS RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE'S LINKAGES WITH MARKETS, NUTRITION, GENDER, AND EMPLOYMENT. WE WORK TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY AMONG LEADERS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND WE CREATE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE IN GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, INVESTORS, PHILANTHROPISTS AND FARMERS ORGANIZATIONS. SOUTH AFRICA - SYNERGOS SOUTH AFRICA STRENGTHENS MUNICIPALITIES' COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP AND BUILDS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO ADDRESS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES THROUGH A BRIDGING LEADERSHIP APPROACH. COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH - COMMUNICATIONS HELPS CREATE AND DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION TO SYNERGOS CONSTITUENCIES, PROVIDES MATERIALS TO ENHANCE THE WORK DONE WITH PARTNERS AND RAISE SUPPORT, AND HELPS MARKET SYNERGOS EVENTS AND PROGRAMS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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