Echo Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Providing training, knowledge resources, networking and seeds to development workers in over 170 countries enabling them to support improved nutrition and livelihood for small-scale farmers and their families.
- Income
- $667,130
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 16.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 73
- Volunteers
- 570
- Highest pay
- $163,020, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 112% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 88% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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.
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 June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
- $721,145 spent. ECHO is continuing to build a knowledge base of agricultural practices and appropriate technologies and then deliver this knowledge to development workers around the globe to reduce hunger and improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers. This work involves field and literature research, extensive networking with development practitioners, seed production and testing, writing and translating knowledge resources, providing training and supporting a growing network of members who access ECHO resources from over 170 countries each month. The thousands of users and hundreds of organizations who utilize ECHO resources regularly evaluate the usefulness and impact of these resources and the effectiveness of their delivery.
- $468,215 spent. In order to move its knowledge resource development and dissemination activities closer to small-scale farmers around the world, ECHO operates Regional Impact Centers/Teams in Southeast Asia, East Africa, and West Africa and are intending to move into Latin America (CAC RIC). These Impact Centers focus on practices, knowledge, seeds, trainings, research and networking that are most beneficial to small-scale farmers and development workers in the respective regions. The work of the Regional Impact Centers/Teams is heavily supported by ECHO's U.S.-based activities identified in 4a above. ECHO's regional resources and trainings are regularly evaluated by practitioners throughout the regions.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 November 1973.
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.