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Ellen Macarthur Foundation USA Inc

EIN 47-4574639 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION USA, INC. (EMF USA) WAS FORMED TO EXTEND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION (EMF) IN THE UNITED STATES. WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH EMF, EMF USA WILL WORK WITH UNITED STATES LEADERS IN BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT (CONTINUE IN SCH O) AND ACADEMIA TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY CONCEPT IN THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
7
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$206,077, executive lead, north america

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 87% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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)
  1. $296,157 spent. CRITICAL MINERALS AND CIRCULAR ELECTRONICS: THIS PROGRAM, PART OF OUR CRITICAL MINERALS MISSION AREA, IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING WASTE STREAM, ELECTRONIC WASTE, AND PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPLY OF CRITICAL MINERALS TO THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR. WE ARE ENGAGING WITH POLICYMAKERS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS TO CO-CREATE AND ACTION SOLUTIONS THAT BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ECONOMIC CASE FOR THE CIRCULATION AND SECOND LIFE OF THE CRITICAL MINERALS RESIDENT IN POPULAR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SUCH AS SMARTPHONES, LAPTOPS AND TABLETS.
  2. $394,876 spent. INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION: WE CONVENE INDUSTRY IN PRE-COMPETITIVE CONVERSATIONS TO ADVANCE CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS AND PRACTICES. WE DO THIS THROUGH EVENTS, SCOPED ACTION-ORIENTED PROJECTS TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC SHARED ISSUES, RESEARCH AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP. WE FOCUS ON (1) CRITICAL MINERALS, (2) PLASTICS & PACKAGING AND (3) FASHION & TEXTILES, AS OUR THREE KEY DOMAINS AS THEY ARE CRITICAL INFLUENCERS OF OVERALL ACTIVITY IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.
  3. $296,155 spent. CIRCULAR ECONOMY POLICY: ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION, USA, INC. INFORMS AND EDUCATES POLICYMAKERS AT A SUB-NATIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL TO EMBED CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICIES. AS PART OF THIS, WE CONDUCT RESEARCH TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE MOST EFFECTIVE POLICIES AND THEIR ECONOMIC, MATERIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES ACROSS VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS. WE FOCUS ON (1) CRITICAL MINERALS, (2) PLASTICS & PACKAGING AND (3) FASHION & TEXTILES AS OUR THREE KEY DOMAINS AS THEY ARE CRITICAL INFLUENCERS OF OVERALL ACTIVITY IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 August 2025.

    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 May 2016.

    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.

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