Giving Exchange
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE GIVING EXCHANGE PROVIDES BUSINESS TRAINING AND SEED CAPITAL THAT EQUIP LOCAL LEADERS TO START AND RUN SELF-SUSTAINABLE MICROENTERPRISES BENEFITING THEIR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $841,607
- Spending
- $546,560
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 52.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $106,090, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 52.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
0 of 250 of 0 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (3)
- $186,301 spent. SKILLS AND BUSINESS TRAININGS: THESE PROGRAMS IN EAST AFRICA PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, PARTICIPANTS GAIN VALUABLE SKILLS IN AREAS SUCH AS TAILORING, BASKETRY, PLASTIC BOTTLE BRICK MAKING, WELDING, BEAUTY, AND HAIRDRESSING, COUPLED WITH TRAINING IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, SALES AND MARKETING, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. THE PROGRAMS AIM TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO START AND SUSTAIN THEIR OWN BUSINESS, FOSTERING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
- $70,658 spent. MICRO-ENTERPRISE AND INFRASTRUCTURE: THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS AND COOPERATIVES WITH THE EQUIPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TRAINING NEEDED TO LAUNCH OR SCALE INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES IN EAST AFRICA. INITIATIVES INCLUDED MICROENTERPRISES SERVICING: ANKARA PAPER MAKING; SHEA BUTTER PRODUCTION; SHOE SALES; SANITARY PAD PRODUCTION; BLACK SOLDIER FLY FARMING TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL FEED; PLASTIC WASTE CONVERSION; AND MORE. THESE PROJECTS PROMOTE INNOVATION, REDUCE DEPENDENCY ON EXTERNAL RESOURCES, AND CREATE LONG-TERM PATHWAYS FOR ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
- $70,593 spent. ANIMAL REARING AND AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE: THESE PROGRAMS IN KENYA AND ZIMBABWE PROVIDE TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO FARMERS, EMPOWERING THEM TO ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY, INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, AND IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS. THROUGH PRACTICAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION, PARTICIPANTS LEARN BEST PRACTICES IN AREAS SUCH AS PIG REARING, POULTRY FARMING, DAIRY PRODUCTION AND AQUACULTURE, LEADING TO LONG-TERM ECONOMIC STABILITY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 January 2014.
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 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.