Games for Change Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO EMPOWER GAME CREATORS AND SOCIAL INNOVATORS TO DRIVE REAL-WORLD CHANGE BY USING GAMES THAT HELP PEOPLE TO LEARN, IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING THE WORLD A MORE EQUITABLE PLACE.
- Income
- $4.4 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 54%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $220,243, president & 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: 28 out of 100. Higher than 3% 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
0 of 20It owes 198% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $1.1 million spent. GAMES FOR CHANGE LEARNSTUDENT CHALLENGEGAMES FOR CHANGE LEARN'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, THE GAMES FOR CHANGE STUDENT CHALLENGE, IS A NATIONAL GAME DESIGN COMPETITION THAT INVITES YOUTH TO CREATE DIGITAL GAMES ABOUT ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM USES YOUTH INTEREST IN VIDEO GAMES TO DEVELOP CODING AND DIGITAL DESIGN SKILLS, AS WELL AS PROBLEM SOLVING, COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY, AND OTHER CRITICAL 21ST CENTURY SKILLS. THE CHALLENGE IS ALSO A PLATFORM FOR AMPLIFYING STUDENT VOICES, EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO IMAGINE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ENGAGED CITIZENS AND CHANGEMAKERS. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2015, THE CHALLENGE HAS TO DATE BENEFITED OVER 900 EDUCATORS AND 50,000 YOUTH, PRIMARILY STUDENTS IN TITLE I PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. ALMOST HALF OF PARTICIPATING STUDENTS ARE FEMALE, MORE THAN 60% ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR, AND MANY ARE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.GAME PLANGAME PLAN IS AN INTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE FOR MUSEUM AND STEM EDUCATORS FOCUSED ON ADDING MORE GAME-LIKE LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS. EDUCATORS IN MUSEUMS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE NOW ADAPTING WHAT THEY LEARN INTO THEIR CURRICULA IN INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE WAYS AND ARE FORGING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE AS THEY COLLABORATE ON NEW PROGRAMS. GAME EXCHANGEGAME EXCHANGE IS A STATE DEPARTMENT-FUNDED VIRTUAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT USES GLOBAL YOUTH INTEREST IN VIDEO GAMES TO CONNECT TEENS IN THE U.S., BAHRAIN, ISRAEL, AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. WITH THE HELP OF THEIR TEACHERS, TEENS FORM INTERNATIONAL "GAME STUDIOS," COLLABORATE TO DESIGN GAMES BASED ON THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
- $1.3 million spent. EVENTSFESTIVALTHE ORGANIZATION PRODUCES THE GAMES FOR CHANGE FESTIVAL (THE "FESTIVAL"), WHICH IS THE BIGGEST GAMING EVENT IN NEW YORK CITY. IT BRINGS TOGETHER LEADERS FROM GOVERNMENT, CORPORATIONS, CIVIL SOCIETY, MEDIA, ACADEMIA AND THE GAMING INDUSTRY TO EXPLORE THE INCREASING REAL-WORLD IMPACT OF DIGITAL GAMES AS AN AGENT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. THE FESTIVAL IS ALSO A SHOWCASE FOR SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE NEW GAMES IN PRODUCTION.
- $1.2 million spent. OTHER PROJECTS & PROGRAMSCONSULTING AND WORKSHOPSTHE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A SUITE OF SERVICES TO GUIDE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES TO FURTHER THEIR PUBLIC, PHILANTHROPIC OR ACADEMIC MISSION. THE SERVICES SEEK TO LIFT UP THE FIELD OF SOCIAL IMPACT GAMES AND CAN RANGE FROM THE MODEST TO THE COMPREHENSIVE VIA A CONCEPT CONSULTATION AND WORKSHOP TO PLAN AND SCOPE GAME RELATED PROJECTS.RAISING GOOD GAMERSRAISING GOOD GAMERS (RGG) IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GAMES FOR CHANGE AND TAKE THIS THAT EMPOWERS YOUNG PEOPLE TO SHAPE THE CULTURE OF ONLINE GAME COMMUNITIES, CREATING PROSOCIAL SPACES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE, HEALTHY, AND THAT COUNTER ONLINE TOXICITY. THE GOAL OF RGG IS TO DEVELOP A CROSS-SECTOR RESEARCH AND PRACTICE COMMUNITY WITH YOUTH AT THE CENTER, IN ORDER TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE MOVEMENT THAT CAN CHANGE THE CULTURE OF ONLINE GAMING FOR EVERYONE.
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 November 6, 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 June 2009.
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 November 4, 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.