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Blacksmith Institute Inc

EIN 13-4075779 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PURE EARTH PARTNERS WITH GOVERNMENTS, COMMUNITIES AND INDUSTRY LEADERS TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS THAT STOP TOXIC EXPOSURES, PROTECT HEALTH, AND RESTORE ENVIRONMENTS. WE PRIORITIZE ACTIONS TO PROTECT THE DEVELOPING BRAINS AND BODIES OF CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN LIVING IN TOXIC HOT SPOTS. WE WORK TO STOP THE MULTIGENERATIONAL CYCLE OF POISONING THAT IS ENDEMIC IN MANY LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES.

Income
$18.5 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
27
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$243,156, vp, development

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 254% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 35% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $5.5 million spent. OUR OBJECTIVELEAD AND MERCURY ARE TWO OF THE MOST PREVALENT POLLUTANTS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES, AND POSE A GREATER RISK THAN ALL OTHER TOP TEN CHEMICALS OF CONCERN IDENTIFIED BY WHO. THROUGH 2030, PURE EARTH IS FOCUSING ON THESE POLLUTANTS THROUGH TWO CORE PROGRAMMATIC AREAS IN NINE COUNTRIES.THE OBJECTIVE OF OUR GLOBAL LEAD PROGRAM IS TO MEASURABLY AND SUSTAINABLY REDUCE LEAD POLLUTION AND POISONING USING A 5-PHASE APPROACH, WHICH INCLUDES HEALTH SURVEILLANCE, EXPOSURE SOURCE ANALYSIS, SOURCE SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING.OUR GLOBAL MERCURY PROGRAM AIMS TO REDUCE MERCURY POLLUTION FROM THE LEADING SOURCE OF EMISSIONS - ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING (ASGM). THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE MERCURY EXPOSURE AND POISONING, BY TARGETING THE MOST SEVERELY AFFECTED POPULATIONS: MINERS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

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 December 1999.

    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.