Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sustainable Electronics Recycling International

EIN 46-5294387 · Harrisburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SERI CHAMPIONS AND DRIVES THE SUSTAINABLE USE, REUSE, AND RECYCLING OF ELECTRONICS GLOBALLY THROUGH SYSTEMS-BUILDING, SKILL-BUILDING, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
16.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
13
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$198,743, secretary/ce

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. SERI ADMINISTERS THE R2 STANDARD AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO BUILD THE CAPABILITIES AND CAPACITY FOR SUSTAINABLE ELECTRONICS REUSE AND RECYCLING GLOBALLY. THIS STANDARD PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE PRACTICES FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND MANAGEMENT OF USED ELECTRONICS. IN 2024, SERI CONTINUED OVERSIGHT OF THE R2 CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR 1,245 FACILITIES IN OVER 43 COUNTRIES. THIS PROGRAM DRIVES THE TRANSITION FROM LINEAR TO CIRCULAR ECONOMIES BY BUILDING THE CAPACITY TO REUSE ELECTRONICS TO BRIDGE DIGITAL DIVIDES AROUND THE WORLD AND REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS BY ENABLING PRODUCTS TO RENAIN IN USE FOR LONGER. IN 2024, OVER 4 BILLION KILOGRAMS OF CO2-EQUIVALENT EMISSIONS WERE AVOIDED THROUGH THE USE OF LAPTOPS, MOBILE PHONES, AND FLAT-PANEL MONITORS ACROSS THE R2 NETWORK.
  2. $643,838 spent. SERI CONDUCTS ONGOING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE ELECTRONICS SUSTAINABILITY. IN 2024, SERI ADDED THE ELECTRONICS SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT (ESUMMIT) TO BRING TOGETHER THE BRIGHTEST MINDS AND THE MOST FORWARD-THINKING COMPANIES TO MAKE EVERY FACET OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY MORE SUSTAINABLE. IT TAKES MANY TO EFFECT CHANGE AT A SYSTEMS LEVEL, AND THE ESUMMIT IS DESIGNED TO BRING THE MISSIONS OF MANY NON-PROFITS TOGETHER TO DRIVE ELECTRONICS SUSTAINABILITY. IN 2024, AT OUR FIRST-EVER ESUMMIT, 625 ATTENDEES CAME TOGETHER TO ATTEND 47 SESSIONS, WITH NEARLY 100 SPEAKERS PRESENTING ACTIONABLE INFORMATION ON THE FUTURE OF ELECTRONICS SUSTAINABILITY.
  3. $723,750 spent. SERI PROGRAMS ENCOMPASS THE INCUBATION AND STARTUP OF NEW PROGRAMS THAT SERI CONTINUES TO DEVELOP TO DRIVE OUR MISSION. THESE STARTUP PROGRAMS INCLUDE R2U TO LEVERAGE THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE R2 STANDARD TO ENABLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCIES IN BEST PRACTICES FOR REUSE AND RECYCLING OF ELECTRONICS. ADDITIONAL STARTUPS INCLUDE CHAMPIONS, TO GALVANIZE A COMMUNITY OF COMPANIES COMMITTED TO ELECTRONICS SUSTAINABILITY AND PROMOTE OTHERS TO JOIN THE MISSION, AND SUSTAINABLE ELECTRONICS INDIA, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON DRIVING CHANGE IN THE MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY ON THE PLANET. IN 2024, SERI CONTINUED OUR FACILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN ESG REPORTING STANDARD TO MEASURE IMPACT IN THE ELECTRONICS VALUE CHAIN. WHILE THERE ARE EXISTING INITIATIVES THAT WORK TO CREATE GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING ACROSS ALL SECTORS, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRONICS, AND THERE IS AN ABSENCE OF THIRD-PARTY OVERSIGHT TO THAT REPORTING. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS MADE ON THIS STANDARD DEVELOPMENT, AND A DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS EXPECTED IN 2026. SERI PROGRAMS ENCOMPASS THE INCUBATION AND STARTUP OF NEW PROGRAMS THAT SERI CONTINUES TO DEVELOP TO DRIVE OUR MISSION. THESE STARTUP PROGRAMS INCLUDE R2U TO LEVERAGE THE KNOWLEDGE IN THE R2 STANDARD TO ENABLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCIES IN BEST PRACTICES FOR REUSE AND RECYCLING OF ELECTRONICS. ADDITIONAL STARTUPS INCLUDE CHAMPIONS, TO GALVANIZE A COMMUNITY OF COMPANIES COMMITTED TO ELECTRONICS SUSTAINABILITY AND PROMOTE OTHERS TO JOIN THE MISSION, AND SUSTAINABLE ELECTRONICS INDIA, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON DRIVING CHANGE IN THE MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY ON THE PLANET. IN 2024, SERI CONTINUED OUR FACILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN ESG REPORTING STANDARD TO MEASURE IMPACT IN THE ELECTRONICS VALUE CHAIN. WHILE THERE ARE EXISTING INITIATIVES THAT WORK TO CREATE GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING ACROSS ALL SECTORS, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRONICS, AND THERE IS AN ABSENCE OF THIRD-PARTY OVERSIGHT TO THAT REPORTING. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS MADE ON THIS STANDARD DEVELOPMENT, AND A DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS EXPECTED IN 2026.

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 November 2014.

    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.