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Friends of the British Council USA

EIN 27-1976339 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF FRIENDS OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL, USA (FOBC) IS TO CREATE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THE UK AND AROUND THE WORLD. FOBC WORKS PRIMARILY BY ENABLING US PARTICIPATION IN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BRITISH COUNCIL'S WORK GLOBALLY.

Income
$472,376
Spending
$333,387
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
1
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$163,472, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 25

    7 of 7 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 March 31, 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 (1)
  1. $208,424 spent. EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH: WE ENABLED ISRAELI SCIENTISTS OF OUTSTANDING ABILITY TO PURSUE THEIR POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE WHILE FOSTERING A SCHOLARLY EXCHANGE AND GREATER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN RESEARCHERS IN BRITAIN AND ISRAEL THROUGH OUR BLAVATNIK FELLOWS PROGRAM. FELLOWS WORKED WITH MULTIPLE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS OF CAMBRIDGE TO FURTHER THEIR RESEARCH OF A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS.WE CONTINUED SUPPORTING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCHERS THROUGH MENASP - MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA SOCIAL POLICY NETWORK THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM. THIS PROJECT CREATES NEW RESEARCH PATHWAYS AND SUPPORTS EXISTING ONES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH IN THE REGION WHILE ALSO CONNECTING SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCHERS TO POLICYMAKERS AND PRACTITIONERS TO SHARE BEST PRACTICE, STRENGTHEN PROBLEM SOLVING APPROACHES TO SOCIAL POLICY, AND TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER THROUGH INTERNATIONAL POLICY WORKSHOPS, THE CONSOLIDATION OF ACADEMIC NETWORKS, AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF AN ONLINE PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS.WE PRODUCED RESEARCH, HOSTED AND CONDUCTED WORKSHOPS, HELD STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSIONS, AND PROVIDED BOTH MENTORING AND TRAINING FOR PROGRAM MANAGERS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COLLEAGUES GLOBALLY ON DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, MULTI-LATERAL AGENCIES, PUBLIC AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS. WE DEVELOPED PITCHES, CONCEPT NOTES, AND GRANT PROPOSALS FOR US AND INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONS FOR PROGRAMS IN TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING, WOMENS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, PEACEBUILDING, YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY, FILM, ONLINE LEARNING, CREATIVE ECONOMY, AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.WE CONTINUED PARTNERING WITH THE MICRO:BIT EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO CREATE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THAT INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET EXCITED ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND STEM. THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS ELEMENTARY TEACHERS IN TITLE 1 SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES TO TEACH DIGITAL SKILLS THROUGH NEW CURRICULUM, EIGHT UNIQUE PROJECTS USING MICRO:BIT COMPUTING DEVICES, AND PRODUCTION OF "HOW TO" VIDEOS ALL MEETING CSTA STANDARDS.WE CONTINUED SUPPORTED THE BRITISH PAVILION EXHIBIT AT THE VENICE BIANNALE AND SUPPORTED THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG ART AND EXHIBITION CURATORS THROUGH THE BRITISH COUNCIL'S YOUNG CURATORS PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 March 2025.

    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 February 2011.

    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.