Sustainable Cambodia Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to empower rural Cambodian villages in becoming self-sustaining communities that coordinate their own development committees and Self-Help Groups to implement programs that address their highest needs. Programs include wells and safe water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Bio-Sand and Ceramic Filters, Rooftop Rainwater Harvest tanks (RRH), Gardens, Agriculture and Pass-On Animals, Economic Opportunities, Healthcare workshops, especially for women, Days for Girls Kits and extensive Educational Enrichment programs for children from preschools through graduation. Education programs include instruction in the students' native language of Khmer, Math, English, Computers, Literacy and Library Time, Traditional Cambodian Dance, Health and Hygiene and Advanced Tutor Classes. Youth Clubs self-organize community service projects, host events and develop leadership skills. All paid staff members are native Cambodians. Everyone else is an unpaid volunteer, including the board of directors.
- Income
- $495,649
- Spending
- $491,077
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $77,439 spent. Working side-by-side with beneficiary families, our teams train and empower communities to rebuild and maintain their quality of life. Access to year-round Safe Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) continues to be a cornerstone of our village sustainability programs. Water supports gardens that build food security. Water supports agriculture, livestock and cash crops that lead to economic growth. Household filtered water and food provide children (who are often the main water carriers for their families) with time and good health to attend school to grow their futures. In 2024 Community Development Program Accomplishments and Beneficiaries included 31 Animal Pass-On Cows and animal raising trainings to benefit 31 families with 142 people with farm labor and economic opportunities; 19 Wells to benefit 78 families with 502 people with year-round water for drinking and daily use; 25 WASH Trainings to benefit 955 people with understanding of how programs work and how to maintain them; 82 Latrines to benefit 386 people with improved sanitation and hygiene; 104 RRH tanks to benefit 104 families and to benefit 746 people by capturing rainwater in large concrete tanks, sealed to prevent contamination; 8 Community Ponds to benefit 160 families with 754 people, 2 School WASH projects to benefit 276 children; 283 Ceramic Filters to benefit 283 families with 1,517 people with home water filtration systems to reduce water-borne diseases and to improve health and productivity; 15 Home Vegetable Garden trainings along with seeds and tools to provide 141 families with 853 people with increased composting skills, nutrition, food security and income generating opportunities and 12 Self-Help Group trainings to provide 421 villagers with skills in strengthening community sustainability.
- $378,523 spent. In 2024 a cornerstone of our Education Program continued to be Supplemental and Enrichment Education for the children in participating villages. Supplemental instruction strengthens our rural students' readiness to advance to the next grades in their state schools. Courses include English, Khmer Language, Math, Computers and Research and Library time. Special tutoring in advanced Sciences and Math assists older students in preparing for their 12th grade state exams. Enrichment activities include Youth Club and Student Councils that develop management and leadership skills through their self-directed community service projects, Traditional Dance Classes. In each school, students receive essential learning materials, including paper, pens and books. Our Libraries have become centers of increased literacy with interactive teaching and learning activities like Read-Alouds. Most importantly, our students love to learn. In all, 2,695 students from preschool through graduation benefitted from our school programs. In addition to their classroom activities, 50 students received bicycles to assist their commutes to school, 444 students received books and school supplies along with hygiene supplies. 10 Chromebooks and headphones increased access to computer literacy in our lab and research classes. In addition to supporting supplemental academic classes and meals, TC Swartz, Wong Schools and Roland Enrichment programs provided substantial school campus improvements including fencing, walkways, flagpole, school gardens. Youthlinc and Bayview volunteer students also provided major support for community schools in remote Chhueteal Rong and Rokat as well as for local SC Pursat schools.
- $29,451 spent. In 2024 we continued to conduct extensive trainings and supplies to support dental, hygiene and handwashing practices for 356 students and parents. Our Days for Girls Program led 15 trainings in menstrual health and hygiene to benefit 436 students in schools. We also provided 1031 supply kits to assist young women in managing their monthly cycles, staying active in school and helping them to save money. Emergency funds assisted students with operations and extensive follow-up care. Additional funds supported dormitory students with food and supplies. Dozens of students were assisted with dental care and several with visual care. One young woman was supported in traveling for a second trip to receive advanced surgery for scoliosis.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.