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Ideo Org

EIN 27-3755556 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE DESIGN PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ALONGSIDE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING A MORE JUST AND INCLUSIVE WORLD.

Income
$7.2 million
Spending
$8.6 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
48
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$208,523, ceo

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (2)
  1. $4.4 million spent. IN THE UNITED STATES IDEO.ORG DESIGNED AND DELIVERED FUTURE-FACING, SCALABLE SOLUTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY HEALTH, AS WELL AS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL MOBILITY. WE DESIGNED A CHATBOT, POWERED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, THAT WILL HELP DOMESTIC WORKERS ADVOCATE FOR FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS. IN TEXAS, WE LED THE COLLABORATIVE DESIGN AND TEACHER-DRIVEN DELIVERY OF A 'SCHOOL CULTURE CHAMPIONS' PROGRAM, WHICH HAS LED TO A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN RATES OF EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE AND KEEPS MORE STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS. IN COLLABORATION WITH A COHORT OF YOUTH CO-DESIGNERS, WE DESIGNED A REFRESHED BRAND FOR A PLATFORM FOR YOUTH ACTIVISM AND ORGANIZING. WE PRODUCED A PUBLIC REPORT ON REIMAGINING CHILDHOOD OBESITY CARE, WITH INSIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND HEALTH COMPANIES TO BETTER SERVE FAMILIES. WE DELIVERED A COMPREHENSIVE MULTIMEDIA TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE DELIVERY OF DIGNIFIED SERVICES TO RECIPIENTS OF WIC (WOMEN INFANTS AND CHILDREN) NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS. WE ALSO LAUNCHED A PUBLIC TOOLKIT, RE-GRANT, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR 501(C)(3)-COMPLIANT COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGNS IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN CHILDCARE, BASED UPON PRIOR CAMPAIGN DESIGN WORK WITH ADVOCACY COALITIONS IN MULTIPLE STATES. THE CHILDCARE COMMUNICATIONS RE-GRANT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RECEIVED APPLICATIONS FROM OVER 75 REGIONAL AND LOCAL GROUPS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $1.5 million spent. IN 2024, OUR EAST AFRICAN PORTFOLIO COMPRISED OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS TO CREATE POSITIVE IMPACT FOR WOMEN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, TAKING A HOLISTIC VIEW ACROSS THE VARIOUS AREAS OF THEIR LIVES SUCH AS HEALTH, AGRICULTURE/FOOD AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION/MONEY.WITHIN THE HEALTH AREA, WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON DESIGNING SAFE SPACES FOR MSM, YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN, WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS PSH ZIMBABWE AND CIFF. WITHIN THE AGRICULTURE AREA, WE WORKED WITH ONE ACRE FUND TO DEVELOP GENDER-SENSITIVE TOOLS FOR THEIR STAFF AND CLIENTS THAT WOULD IMPROVE CAPACITY BUILDING AND INCOME GENERATION.WITH CITI FOUNDATION, WE MANAGED A GLOBAL LEARNING COMMUNITY OF 100+ GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING AROUND FOOD SECURITY AND HOMELESSNESS.FURTHERMORE, WE WORKED WITH THE GATES FOUNDATION TO DELIVER A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS TO INFORM THEIR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP EXPERIENCE.

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 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 May 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.