The Sonder Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Sonder Project empowers communities in Burkina Faso and Malawi through high-impact, sustainable development programs focused on clean water, education, and sustainable agriculture, recognizing these as intrinsically linked to lifting individuals, communities, and future generations from poverty.
- Income
- $619,066
- Spending
- $610,963
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $119,054, 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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, 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 (5)
- $197,120 spent. Water is Our Right - Clean Water Program - 11 deep-well boreholes drilled and the completion of one solar-powered water distribution system providing dependable clean water for a public, secondary boarding school and its surrounding villages in Malawi. We also rehabilitated an old non-Sonder drilled borehole in Malawi. In total, we provided clean water for 4,980 people and continued sustainability training and maintenance of existing 55 wells.
- $162,712 spent. Education is Power - Student Sponsorship Program - 210 students in the '23 - '24 school year provided with the resources and support necessary to stay in school through our programs 4 key pillars: Sponsorship, Mentorship, Academic Support, and Life Skills Enrichment. We also sponsored our first Education is Power graduate with post-secondary sponsorship. Five of our students successfully completed secondary school.
- $35,526 spent. Strengthening Schools - Creating Quality Educational Environments - completed the construction of one school block and latrines for a primary school in Malawi with over 500 registered students in partnership with buildOn.
- $30,955 spent. Planting Opportunity - Sustainable Agriculture Community Farm Project - Completed our first full year on our Community Farm with individual plots, managed and rented by 111 community members - over 80% women. Collectively, farm members reported earnings of $3,634 and an average annual income per farmer of 44%.
- $10,537 spent. Immersion - empowered our partner communities with direct support from our supporters abroad through a cultural immersion 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
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 2024.
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 November 2015.
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.