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Effie Worldwide Inc

EIN 20-8875698 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EFFIE WORLDWIDE CHAMPIONS AND IMPROVES THE PRACTICE AND THE PRACTITIONERS OF MARKETING EFFECTIVENESS.

Income
$10.1 million
Spending
$11.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
39
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$466,361, chief execut

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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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. $9.7 million spent. UNITED STATES EFFIE AWARDS: THE UNITED STATES EFFIE AWARDS IDENTIFIES EXAMPLES OF MARKETING COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVENESS VIA COMPETITIONS REQUIRING THE SUBMISSION OF DETAILED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS CASE STUDIES BY COMPANIES. JUDGING IS DONE BY SENIOR EXECUTIVES WITHIN STRICT GUIDELINES. THE CASES ARE THEN USED TO EDUCATE THE INDUSTRY ON WHAT WORKS AND WHY. EDUCATION: EFFIE RUNS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS UNDER THE EFFIE ACADEMY. THE ROLE OF THE ACADEMY IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO MARKETING PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT POINTS IN THEIR CAREER. COLLEGIATE IS FOR UNDERGRADUATES, BOOTCAMP FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS 4-7 YEARS INTO THEIR CAREER, AND CUSTOMIZED LEARNING SESSIONS ARE FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO WOULD LIKE TO UPGRADE AND IMPROVE THEIR MARKETING EFFECTIVENESS CAPABILITIES. INTERNATIONAL LICENSING: EFFIE WORLDWIDE, BASED IN NEW YORK CITY, IS THE GLOBAL BRAND OWNER OF THE EFFIE AWARDS COMPETITION AND CURRENTLY LICENSES IT IN MORE THAN 46 MARKETS GLOBALLY. ALL LICENSED EFFIE PROGRAMS WORLDWIDE OPERATE ACCORDING TO THE GLOBAL EFFIE AWARDS BRAND STANDARDS TO HONOR THE YEAR'S MOST EFFECTIVE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS CASES IDEAS THAT WORK. UNITED STATES EFFIE AWARDS: THE UNITED STATES EFFIE AWARDS IDENTIFIES EXAMPLES OF MARKETING COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVENESS VIA COMPETITIONS REQUIRING THE SUBMISSION OF DETAILED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS CASE STUDIES BY COMPANIES. JUDGING IS DONE BY SENIOR EXECUTIVES WITHIN STRICT GUIDELINES. THE CASES ARE THEN USED TO EDUCATE THE INDUSTRY ON WHAT WORKS AND WHY. EDUCATION: EFFIE RUNS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS UNDER THE EFFIE ACADEMY. THE ROLE OF THE ACADEMY IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO MARKETING PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT POINTS IN THEIR CAREER. COLLEGIATE IS FOR UNDERGRADUATES, BOOTCAMP FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS 4-7 YEARS INTO THEIR CAREER, AND CUSTOMIZED LEARNING SESSIONS ARE FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO WOULD LIKE TO UPGRADE AND IMPROVE THEIR MARKETING EFFECTIVENESS CAPABILITIES. INTERNATIONAL LICENSING: EFFIE WORLDWIDE, BASED IN NEW YORK CITY, IS THE GLOBAL BRAND OWNER OF THE EFFIE AWARDS COMPETITION AND CURRENTLY LICENSES IT IN MORE THAN 46 MARKETS GLOBALLY. ALL LICENSED EFFIE PROGRAMS WORLDWIDE OPERATE ACCORDING TO THE GLOBAL EFFIE AWARDS BRAND STANDARDS TO HONOR THE YEAR'S MOST EFFECTIVE MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS CASES IDEAS THAT WORK.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.