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Build Change

EIN 35-2237155 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO GREATLY REDUCE DEATHS, INJURIES, AND ECONOMIC LOSSES CAUSED BY HOUSING AND SCHOOL COLLAPSES DUE TO EARTHQUAKES, EXTREME WEATHER AND FIRES.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
17
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$210,013, founder and 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: IN COLOMBIA, RESILIENT HOUSING EFFORTS SHIFTED TO COMMUNITY-LED INITIATIVES, WITH OVER 250 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ENROLLING IN THE GOVERNMENT-LED "CAMBIA MI CASA" PROGRAM. THEIR INFLUENCE LED TO NEW REGULATIONS INTEGRATING CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT SUBSIDIES. IN DOMINICA, THE CDRI-SUPPORTED PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A HOUSING SURVEY OF OVER 450 HOMES, WITH INITIAL DATA PROCESSED AND FINDINGS SHARED WITH STAKEHOLDERS. HAITI ACHIEVED 60% COMPLETION OF ITS NATIONAL BUILDING CODE REVISION, MAINTAINING SMOOTH COORDINATION AND HIGH SATISFACTION. IN MEXICO, BUILD CHANGE POSITIONED ITSELF AS A KEY EXPERT, CONTRIBUTING TO 623 HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND FINALIZING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CONAVI, MAKING KEY RESILIENT HOUSING DOCUMENTS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
  2. $775,993 spent. ASIA PACIFIC: BUILD CHANGE IN INDONESIA INITIATED MULTIPLE IMPACTFUL PROJECTS, ADVISING ON A NEW GREEN HOUSING SUBSIDY PROGRAM, SUPPORTING HOME RETROFITTING ADVOCACY, AND DEVELOPING AN AFFORDABLE HEAT-RESILIENT HOME FINANCING MODEL. THEY TRAINED HUNDREDS OF MICROFINANCE OFFICERS AND REACHED OVER A THOUSAND HOMEOWNERS, ALSO ADVANCING DIGITAL TOOLS FOR ASSESSMENTS. THE MALDIVES SAW THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION AND PUBLIC LAUNCH OF COMPREHENSIVE RESILIENT HOUSING GUIDANCE FOR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS. IN NEPAL, FOUR MODEL HOMES WERE RETROFITTED, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROVIDED FOR TWO HOUSES IN JAJARKOT, ALONGSIDE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. THE PHILIPPINES STRENGTHENED 894 HOMES, TRAINED 994 BUILDERS, AND ENGAGED NEARLY 10,000 INDIVIDUALS, WITH FORTIFIED HOMES NOTABLY WITHSTANDING MAJOR TYPHOONS. A KEY POLICY REFORM WAS ALSO SECURED FOR PREVENTIVE HOUSE STRENGTHENING.
  3. $576,737 spent. AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST: BUILD CHANGE CONCLUDED A WORLD BANK PROJECT IN COMOROS, DELIVERING SAFER PROTOTYPE DESIGNS, THE FIRST LOCAL BUILDING GUIDE, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, AND A CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION APP NOW ACTIVELY USED BY INSPECTORS. IN MOROCCO, A TRAINING SITE FOR THE ASNI COMMUNITY CENTER RETROFIT WAS COMPLETED, TRAINING 10 PEOPLE AND RETROFITTING ONE STRUCTURE, WITH HOMEOWNER AWARENESS SESSIONS INITIATED. MOZAMBIQUE SECURED A SIGNIFICANT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF MOZAMBIQUE, SET TO BEGIN IN 2025, AIMING TO IMPROVE 8,400 HOMES. IN TÜRKIYE, BUILD CHANGE EXCEEDED ITS HOMEOWNER ADVICE TARGET, REACHING 500 PEOPLE, ESTABLISHED A RESILIENCE BEACON IN HATAY VIA LOCAL PARTNERS, AND COMPLETED OVER 200 HOUSE EVALUATIONS USING BCTAP.
  4. $790,633 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS: OTHER GENERAL SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.