Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Search for Common Ground

EIN 52-1257425 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM THE WAY THE WORLD DEALS WITH CONFLICT, AWAY FROM ADVERSARIAL APPROACHES AND TOWARD COOPERATIVE SOLUTIONS. OUR PROGRAMS WORK TO BRIDGE DIVING LINES AND ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION. OUR COMMON GROUND APPROACH DRIVES CHANGE IN THREE STEPS: HUMANIZE DIVIDED PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR SHARED INTERESTS AND PURSUITS; MOBILIZE PEOPLE AROUND SHARED CONCERNS AND ASPIRATIONS; AND SYSTEMATIZE COOPERATION THROUGH CHANGED INSTITUTIONS AND CULTURAL NORMS.

Income
$40.9 million
Spending
$45.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 51%
Employees
119
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$336,454, 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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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

    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 (9)
  1. $22.0 million spent. IN AFRICA, SFCG WORKS TO TRANSFORM CONFLICT ACROSS MORE THAN 12 COUNTRIES. OUR PROJECTS INVOLVE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS IN ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CAPACITY BUILDING, DIALOGUE, JOINT ACTIVITIES, AND MEDIA OUTREACH. OUR WORK INVOLVES YOUTH, WOMEN, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS.
  2. $7.6 million spent. SFCG'S GLOBAL PROGRAMS COMPLEMENT OUR PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD, OFFERING SPECIFIC TOOLS AND OFFERING EXPERTISE TO STRENGTHEN OUR IMPACT. THESE PROGRAMS ALSO ADDRESS DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING BOTH INSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACADEMIA AND PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS.
  3. $4.0 million spent. IN ASIA, SFCG WORKS TO TRANSFORM CONFLICT ACROSS MORE THAN FIVE COUNTRIES. OUR PROGRAMS ENGAGE YOUTH, MEDIA AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS THROUGH DIALOGUE, CAPACITY BUILDING, JOINT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING MEDIA PRODUCTION AND OUTREACH.
  4. $914,076 spent. IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SFCG WORKS TO TRANSFORM CONFLICT ACROSS FIVE COUNTRIES. OUR PROGRAMS BRING TOGETHER CONFLICTING PARTIES FOR DIALOGUE, CAPACITY BUILDING AND JOINT PROJECTS. OUR WORK INVOLVES MEDIA PRODUCTION AND OUTREACH, ENGAGING YOUTH, WOMEN AND INSTITUTIONAL STAKEHOLDERS.
  5. $247,674 spent. IN North America, SFCG WORKS TO TRANSFORM CONFLICT ACROSS MORE THAN 2 COUNTRIES. OUR PROJECTS INVOLVE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS IN ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CAPACITY BUILDING, DIALOGUE, JOINT ACTIVITIES, AND MEDIA OUTREACH. OUR WORK INVOLVES YOUTH, WOMEN, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS.
  6. $147,303 spent. IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, SFCG WORKS TO TRANSFORM CONFLICT ACROSS MORE THAN 2 COUNTRIES. OUR PROJECTS INVOLVE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS IN ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CAPACITY BUILDING, DIALOGUE, JOINT ACTIVITIES, AND MEDIA OUTREACH. OUR WORK INVOLVES YOUTH, WOMEN, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS.
  7. (Expenses $ 914,076 including grants of $ 628,556)(Revenue $ 0) IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SFCG WORKS TO TRANSFORM CONFLICT ACROSS FIVE COUNTRIES. OUR PROGRAMS BRING TOGETHER CONFLICTING PARTIES FOR DIALOGUE, CAPACITY BUILDING AND JOINT PROJECTS. OUR WORK INVOLVES MEDIA PRODUCTION AND OUTREACH, ENGAGING YOUTH, WOMEN AND INSTITUTIONAL STAKEHOLDERS.
  8. (Expenses $ 247,674 including grants of $ 2,535,823)(Revenue $ 0) IN North America, SFCG WORKS TO TRANSFORM CONFLICT ACROSS MORE THAN 2 COUNTRIES. OUR PROJECTS INVOLVE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS IN ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CAPACITY BUILDING, DIALOGUE, JOINT ACTIVITIES, AND MEDIA OUTREACH. OUR WORK INVOLVES YOUTH, WOMEN, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS.
  9. (Expenses $ 147,303 including grants of $ 275,102)(Revenue $ 0) IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, SFCG WORKS TO TRANSFORM CONFLICT ACROSS MORE THAN 2 COUNTRIES. OUR PROJECTS INVOLVE MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS IN ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CAPACITY BUILDING, DIALOGUE, JOINT ACTIVITIES, AND MEDIA OUTREACH. OUR WORK INVOLVES YOUTH, WOMEN, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS.

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 November 1982.

    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.