Global Network Initiative
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROTECTING AND ADVANCING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PRIVACY IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) SECTOR.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 10.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $245,472, executive dir.
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 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)
- $1.1 million spent. THERE ARE FOUR CORE DOCUMENTS THAT DESCRIBE THE INITIATIVE'S OBJECTIVES AND THE KEY COMMITMENTS OF THE PARTICIPANTS:THE PRINCIPLES STATE THE OVERARCHING COMMITMENT OF THE INITIATIVE'S MEMBERS TO COLLABORATE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF USER RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PRIVACY. THE PRINCIPLES PROVIDE HIGH-LEVEL GUIDANCE TO THE ICT INDUSTRY ON HOW TO RESPECT, PROTECT AND ADVANCE USER RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PRIVACY, INCLUDING WHEN FACED WITH GOVERNMENT DEMANDS FOR CENSORSHIP AND DISCLOSURE OF USERS' PERSONAL INFORMATION. THE PRINCIPLES ARE INTENDED TO HAVE GLOBAL APPLICATION AND ARE GROUNDED IN INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWS AND STANDARDS INCLUDING THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ("UDHR"), THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL & POLITICAL RIGHTS ("ICCPR") AND THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS ("ICESCR").THE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES PROVIDE MORE DETAILED GUIDANCE TO ICT COMPANIES ON HOW TO PUT THE PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE AND ALSO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATION AMONG COMPANIES , NGO'S, INVESTORS AND ACEDMICS. THE GUIDELINES WILL BE REGULARLY REVIEWED AND REVISED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ACTUAL EXPERIENCE, EVOLVING CIRCUMSTANCES AND STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK.THE ACCOUNTABILITY, POLICY & LEARNING FRAMEWORK SETS OUT A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE , GOALS FOR COLLABORATION AND A, SYSTEM OF COMPANY ACCOUNTABILITY TO SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLES, MAXIMIZE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND ENSURE THE INTEGRITY AND EFFICACY OF THE INITIATIVE.THE GOVERNANCE CHARTER ESTABLISHES GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND DEFINES KEY ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS FOR GNI.
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 May 2011.
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.