Igda Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE IGDA FOUNDATION IS A GLOBAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION SERVING UNDERREPRESENTED AND MARGINALIZED DEVELOPERS AND INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN A CAREER WITHIN THE GAMING INDUSTRY. OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE THE GAME INDUSTRY MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY PERSON WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF THE GAMING INDUSTRY.
- Income
- $210,829
- Spending
- $203,610
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 16.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 40
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 77% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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.
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 (1)
- $124,190 spent. EMPOWERING UNDERREPRESENTED GAME DEVELOPERS AT THE GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE (GDC):IN 2024, THE IGDA FOUNDATION PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING TO EMPOWER OVER 60 INDIVIDUALS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS TO ATTEND THE GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO. THIS INITIATIVE INCLUDED TRAVEL GRANTS, CONFERENCE PASSES, AND TAILORED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS, ENABLING PARTICIPANTS TO ACCESS INDUSTRY NETWORKING, MENTORSHIP, AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE INACCESSIBLE. THE PROGRAM DIRECTLY ADVANCED OUR MISSION TO FOSTER DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE GLOBAL GAME DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR EMERGING TALENT. (CONTINUED ON SCH. O)VIRTUAL EXCHANGE CAREER ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM:THE FOUNDATION DESIGNED AND DELIVERED THE VIRTUAL EXCHANGE, A SIX-WEEK ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT SERVED OVER 70 GRANTEES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN WORKSHOPS, MENTORSHIP, AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS AIMED AT ENHANCING THEIR SKILLS, EXPANDING THEIR PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS, AND PROGRESSING THEIR CAREERS IN THE VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY. THE VIRTUAL EXCHANGE PROVIDED A SCALABLE, ACCESSIBLE PLATFORM FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS, MANY OF WHOM FACE GEOGRAPHIC OR FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO TRADITIONAL IN-PERSON EVENTS.SPARK PROGRAM SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA:THROUGH THE SPARK PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED MORE THAN 160 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS AFRICA WITH TARGETED TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO KICKSTART CAREERS IN GAME DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS, CAREER COACHING, AND INDUSTRY NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, DIRECTLY ADDRESSING THE SKILLS GAP AND SUPPORTING ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN UNDERSERVED REGIONS. SPARK'S IMPACT IS MEASURED BY PARTICIPANT CAREER PROGRESSION, NEW JOB PLACEMENTS, AND THE CREATION OF NEW GAMES AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS BY ALUMNI.
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 2025.
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 August 2008.
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.