Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative

EIN 45-4050957 · Cerritos, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WHITAKER PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE IS DEDICATED TO PEACE-BUILDING AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IN AREAS OF CONFLICT EVERYWHERE. WE FOCUS ON EMPOWERING AND INSPIRING YOUTH, WOMEN, AND GLOBAL CITIZENS TO PROMOTE PEACE ACROSS THE PLANET - FROM UGANDA TO SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES.WE SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN OUR PEACE INITIATIVES WITH CONFLICT-RESOLUTION TRAINING PROGRAMS AND METHODOLOGY, GRASSROOTS EFFORTS, ACCESS TO EXPERTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY, CONTENT, AND 21ST CENTURY COMMUNICATION TOOLS.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
8

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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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.

  • 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. $2.3 million spent. YOUTH PEACEMAKER NETWORK (YPN) SOUTH SUDAN: YPN BRINGS TOGETHER YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTH SUDAN'S 10 STATES THAT ARE MOTIVATED TO BE LEADERS IN PEACE-BUILDING AND ACT AS AGENTS OF POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL STRENGTHEN THE PEACE-BUILDING CAPACITY AMONG PEERS AND WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION BY EQUIPPING YOUNG PEACEMAKERS WITH THE SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES NECESSARY TO MITIGATE CONFLICT WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THIS WILL INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS A YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM TO ENGAGE DECISION-MAKERS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CONFLICT IN MUTUAL DIALOGUE.
  2. $2.0 million spent. YOUTH PEACEMAKER NETWORK IN NORTHERN UGANDA: THE YOUTH PEACEMAKER NETWORK (YPN) NORTHERN UGANDA IS A PROGRAM AIMED AT FOSTERING LASTING PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MAINLY IN THE ACHOLI SUBREGION AS WELL AS IN THE KIRYANDONGO REFUGEE SETTLEMENT AND ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE YPN BRINGS TOGETHER YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS NORTHERN UGANDA WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO BE LEADERS IN PEACE-BUILDING AND ACT AS AGENTS OF POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. MOST OF THESE YOUTH STEM FROM VULNERABLE BACKGROUNDS: MANY YOUTH ENROLLED IN THE ACHOLI SUBREGION HAVE BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE PAST CONFLICTS AND MOST OF THE YOUTH IN THE KIRYANDONGO PROGRAM ARE REFUGEES. MODELED AFTER THE PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY WPDI IN SOUTH SUDAN, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THESE INDIVIDUALS SO THEY CAN STRENGTHEN THE PEACE-BUILDING CAPACITY AMONG PEERS AND WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE YPN CONTRIBUTES IN PARTICULAR TO CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION BY EQUIPPING YOUNG PEACEMAKERS WITH THE SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES NECESSARY TO PREVENT AND MITIGATE CONFLICT WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN UNDER THE PROGRAM INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS TRAININGS, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS A YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM TO ENGAGE HIGH-LEVEL DECISION-MAKERS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CONFLICT IN MUTUAL DIALOGUE.BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY AND GLOBAL NATURE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE IMPACT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S BUSINESS COULD BE SIGNIFICANT AND HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON ITS FINANCIAL POSITION AND OPERATING RESULTS. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY AND MANAGEMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING THE POTENTIAL FUTURE IMPACT ON ITS BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
  3. $596,751 spent. THE YOUTH PEACEMAKER NETWORK SOUTH AFRICA: OUR AIM IS TO FOSTER THE PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM VULNERABLE PLACES IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CIVIC LIFE OF THEIR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING THEM ASSETS THAT ARE BOTH INTANGIBLE - I.E. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION, ICTS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS WELL AS BACKSTOPPING AND MENTORING - AND TANGIBLE - I.E. RESOURCES TO UNDERTAKE PROJECTS WITH IMPACT IN TERMS OF LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PEACE, SOCIAL INCLUSION, EDUCATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
  4. $840,980 spent. HARMONIZER PROGRAM: THE HARMONIZER PROGRAM IS BOTH A DOMESTIC AND AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO ENCOURAGE SOCIAL CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION IN URBAN AREAS AFFECTED BY VIOLENCE. OPERATING IN AREAS MARKED BY DESTRUCTIVE CONFLICTS, THE PROGRAM DESIGNS AND IMPLEMENTSSTRATEGIES TO PROMOTE NON-VIOLENT CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND TO CHANGE THE SYSTEMATIC PATTERNS SHAPED AND IMPACTED BY CONFLICT. THE HARMONIZER PROGRAM IS ALSO DEDICATED TO ENABLING RESEARCHERS TO ENTER CONFLICT ZONES AND EVALUATE PATHWAYS TO PEACE BY STIMULATING ECONOMIC AND COMMUNAL GROWTH, WITH A FOCUS ON TROUBLED YOUTH IN VIOLENT AREAS.MULTIMEDIA PROGRAMS: THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED AN EXPANSIVE PEACE-BUILDING CAMPAIGN THAT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA, AND POP CULTURE. A MULTIFACETED MEDIA CAMPAIGN - DECLARE PEACE - IS AIMED AT BUILDING AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF VIOLENT CONFLICT AROUND THE WORLD. THE EFFORT ENCOMPASSES ADVERTISING, MUSIC, FILM, TELEVISION, PUBLIC ART, AND THEATRE. THE CAMPAIGN PLAYS ACROSS MULTIPLE CONTENT AND DISTRIBUTION PLATFORMS INCLUDING BROADCAST AND CABLE, WEB AND SOCIAL NETWORKS, MOBILE, AND LIVE EVENTS.YOUTH PEACEMAKER NETWORK PROGRAM IN MEXICO: THE YOUTH PEACEMAKER NETWORK (YPN) MEXICO IS A PROGRAM AIMED AT FOSTERING LASTING PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MAINLY IN TIJUANA AND CHIAPAS. THE YPN BRINGS TOGETHER YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO BE LEADERS IN PEACE-BUILDING AND ACT AS AGENTS OF POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. MOST OF THESE YOUTH STEM FROM VULNERABLE BACKGROUNDS: MANY YOUTH ENROLLED IN THE MEXICO PROGRAM ARE FROM INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES OR HAVE BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED BY GANG RELATED VIOLENCE. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS THESE INDIVIDUALS SO THEY CAN STRENGTHEN THE PEACE-BUILDING CAPACITY AMONG PEERS AND WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE YPN CONTRIBUTES IN PARTICULAR TO CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION BY EQUIPPING YOUNG PEACEMAKERS WITH THE SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES NECESSARY TO PREVENT AND MITIGATE CONFLICT WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN UNDER THE PROGRAM INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS TRAININGS, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS A YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM TO ENGAGE HIGH-LEVEL DECISION-MAKERS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CONFLICT IN MUTUAL DIALOGUE.IN 2021, THE WHITAKER PEACE & DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (WPDI) AND UNESCO ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP TO ROLL OUT A PROGRAM IN GABON, CAMEROON AND CHAD. THE PROJECT, ENTITLED "YOUNG PEOPLE, WEAVERS OF PEACE" ("LES JEUNES, TISSERANDS DE LA PAIX" IN FRENCH), AIMS TO CREATE A NETWORK OF 1,800 YOUNG LEADERS FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE CROSS-BORDER REGIONS OF THE THREE COUNTRIES. AMONG THEM, 750 YOUTHS WERE SPECIFICALLY ENROLLED ON A PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP LED AND IMPLEMENTED BY WPDI, ESPOUSING ITS TRIED AND TESTED BUSINESS BOOTCAMP PROGRAM. THE 750 YOUTHS ARE TO BE TRAINED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE CROSS-BORDER REGIONS AND 16 GROUPS OF 10 YOUTHS WILL EVENTUALLY BE SUPPORTED TO CREATE 16 COOPERATIVE BUSINESSES ACROSS CAMEROON, CHAD AND GABON.THE YOUTH PEACEMAKER NETWORK FRANCE: IN 2022, WE MOVED TO PUT OUR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AT THE SERVICE OF SEINE-SAINT-DENIS, ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGED AREAS OF METROPOLITAN FRANCE, WHICH FACES NUMEROUS CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF POVERTY, URBAN VIOLENCE, INSECURITY, SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF YOUTH, ISSUES OF GENDER EQUALITY, OR DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIFFERENT CULTURAL GROUPS. OUR FIELD WORK BEGAN WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAINING CENTER IN THE CITY OF AUBERVILLIERS WHICH OFFERS THREE TRAINING COURSES FREE-OF-CHARGE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS CREATION; COMPUTER TRAINING, AND HUMAN RELATIONS MANAGEMENT.

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 2024.

    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 August 2013.

    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.