Georgia Watch
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $128,306, executive director
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 96% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 (3)
- $218,059 spent. 4A) FINANCIAL PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS GEORGIA WATCH WORKED IN 2024 TO EDUCATE GEORGIA CITIZENS, THE MEDIA AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT CRITICAL AREAS OF PUBLIC CONCERN, INCLUDING PREDATORY LENDING, PROACTIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, IDENTITY THEFT, SCAM AVOIDANCE AND ENERGY ISSUES. GEORGIA WATCH OFFERS NUMEROUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ASSIST GEORGIANS WITH BASIC CONSUMER PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING GETTING ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE; MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES MORE EFFECTIVELY, AND LOWERING ENERGY BILLS. GEORGIA WATCH STAFF MEMBERS TRAVEL AROUND THE STATE TO PRESENT THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE UPDATED AND EXPANDED AS NEEDED. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER TOOLS THAT HELP CONSUMERS CONNECT WITH RESOURCES, BUILD AND MANAGE WEALTH, AND AVOID PREDATORY PRACTICES SUCH AS TITLE PAWN AND PAYDAY LENDING.
- $43,078 spent. 4B) CONSUMER ENERGY PROGRAM (CEP) THROUGH MEDIA AND GRASSROOTS OUTREACH, GEORGIA WATCH RAISES AWARENESS OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (PSC) PROCEEDINGS AND OTHER ENERGY ISSUES IMPACTING OUR STATE'S ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY AND UTILITY RATEPAYERS' POCKETBOOKS. WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON ASSISTING LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS WHO ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THE HIGH COST OF UTILITIES, WE DEVELOP CONSUMER RESOURCES WITH TIPS ON HOW TO USE LESS ENERGY TO SAVE MONEY ON POWER BILLS, WHICH WE DISSEMINATE AT WORKSHOPS AND THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. IN 2024, WE INTERVENED IN ENERGY RELATED MATTERS AT THE GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PROMOTE MEANINGFUL EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS AND KEEP UTILITY BILLS AFFORDABLE.
- $601,923 spent. 4C) HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM (HAP) IN 2012, GEORGIA WATCH CREATED THE HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM TO ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE FOR LOW-INCOME, UNDER- AND UNINSURED GEORGIANS. THROUGH GEORGIA WATCH'S TOLL-FREE CONSUMER HELPLINE, CONSUMERS CONTACT US DIRECTLY WITH QUESTIONS REGARDING THEIR HEALTHCARE. HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY WAS THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT CONSUMERS CONTACTED GEORGIA WATCH IN 2024, MANY OF THEM SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO RESOLVE AN UNEXPECTED MEDICAL BILL OR HOW TO ACCESS HEALTHCARE AND INSURANCE. GEORGIA WATCH HAS ENGAGED OVER 40 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN EDUCATION EFFORTS AROUND MEDICAL DEBT AND HEALTHCARE ACCESS, DISTRIBUTED OUR GUIDES ELECTRONICALLY AND IN PRINT THOUSANDS OF TIMES, AND EDUCATED NEARLY 600 CONSUMERS AND ADVOCATES THROUGH OUR HEALTHCARE AFFORDABILITY WORKSHOPS. IN 2020, ONCE THE DEVASTATING SCOPE OF THE PANDEMIC BEGAN UNFOLDING IN MID-MARCH, GEORGIA WATCH FOCUSED ON CREATING RESOURCES TO ASSIST IN RESPONDING TO HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FROM THE CRISIS. SINCE 2017, GEORGIA WATCH HAS SERVED ON THE GEORGIA COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH HAS BEEN MEETING FOR A YEAR UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS) IN GEORGIA. IN 2024, WE BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 100 INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE STATE TO PUSH FOR CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN THE STATE. IMPROVING HEALTH EQUITY IS KEY TO OUR ORGANIZATION'S VISION, AND PROMOTING HEALTHCARE ACCESS IS ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC GOALS. WE KNOW THAT CHWS CAN HELP REDUCE DISPARITIES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN OUR STATE. AS A MULTI-ISSUE CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION, WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HELP PATIENTS ADDRESS ISSUES IN THEIR LIVES WITH INCOME, HOUSING, HEALTHY EATING, AND MENTAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH IN ORDER TO BECOME WELL AND STAY WELL. WE HAVE BROUGHT A USEFUL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE CONSUMER ADVOCACY VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION AT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ABOUT ENCOURAGING USE OF THE CHW MODEL IN GEORGIA.
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 January 2005.
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.
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.