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Civicus World Alliance for Citizen Participation Inc

EIN 52-1847010 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CIVICUS IS A GLOBAL ALLIANCE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS AND ACTIVISTS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING CITIZEN ACTION AND CIVIL SOCIETY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$7.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
6
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$192,442, cpo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 47% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 June 30, 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 (8)
  1. $2.2 million spent. ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNS:THE ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNS WORK OF CIVICUS WAS DONE THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. MANY OF WHICH WERE DONE THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OR SUPPORT OR IN COORDINATION WITH THE ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNS CLUSTER.THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE STAND AS MY WITNESS CAMPAIGN, TWO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS WERE RELEASED LAST YEAR. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF THE CAMPAIGN THROUGH A SERIES OF OPINION EDITORIALS PUBLISHED DURING ITS ANNIVERSARY AND RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR THE HRDS DURING THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY WEEK.THE FIRST-EVER DIPLOMATS AND DEFENDERS DIALOGUE IN EGYPT WAS HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CIVICUS MEMBERS AND PARTNERS WHICH LED TO IDENTIFYING JOINT ACTIONS ON CIVIC SPACE. IN APRIL 2025, THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON PEOPLE AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTED TO DRAFTING A GENERAL COMMENT ON PROTECTING ENVIRONMENTAL HUMANRIGHTS DEFENDERS, BUILDING ON A COALITION INITIATED BY CIVICUS IN 2021 AND A 2023 PROPOSAL SUPPORTED BY CHARM. THE GENERAL COMMENT, ONCE ADOPTED, WILL PROVIDE LEGAL GUIDANCE FOR COURTS AND ADMINISTRATIONS ACROSS AFRICA. IN BANGLADESH, THROUGH THE SUSTAINED ADVOCACY WITH PARTNERS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNED THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF ALL PERSONS FROM ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES. IN LATIN AMERICA, A SOLIDARITY CALL WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS EXPERIENCING REPRESSION IN NICARAGUA WAS HELD. VUKA DID SOLIDARITY CALLS ON KENYA AND BANGLADESH, ON THE OTHER HAND.THE CRISIS RESPONSE FUND THROUGH THE BRIDGING THE GAP PROJECT, AND FLEXIBLE SUPPORT MECHANISM PROJECT PROVIDED THE NEEDED FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS FACING RESTRICTIONS OR CHALLENGES FROM PURSUING THEIR ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNS EFFORTS. MORE THAN 20 ORGANIZATIONS WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH THESE TWO GRANTS LAST YEAR FOCUSING ON VARIOUS ADVOCACY AND CAMPAIGNS WORK ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIC SPACE ISSUES.WE ALSO EXPANDED CIVICUS NETWORK THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL AND GLOBAL CONFERENCES AND CONVENINGS AND SIT IN LEADERSHIP COMMITTEES OF VARIOUS GROUPS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. INNOVATION & IMPACT: THE NEWLY CONSTITUTED INNOVATION AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT (IQM) TEAM IS CIVICUS' PROJECT INCUBATOR AND CUSTODIAN OF INNOVATION AND PROGRAMME QUALITY. IQM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING, TESTING AND SOCIALIZING INNOVATION AND QUALITY STANDARDS ACROSS THE CIVICUS ALLIANCE, INCUBATING AND INTEGRATING NEW PROGRAMMES, AND CURATING OUR CIVICUS APPROACH TO INNOVATION. IN FY2025 KEY PROJECTS INCLUDED DESIGN OF INNOVATION AWARDS, FACILITATION OF COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT SPACES, CO-DESIGN PROGRAMME SUPPORT, THE REFINEMENT OF THE INNOVATION AND QUALITY MODEL AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE CIVICUS FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP APPROACH. THE IMPACT AND ACCOUNTABILITY (I&A) TEAM DRIVES CIVICUS' ABILITY FOR STRATEGIC IMPACT MEASUREMENT AND DEVELOPS SYSTEMS AND CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND AND MEASURE OUR PROGRESS AND CONTRIBUTION TO SYSTEMIC CHANGE. OUR DIGITAL DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE (DDI), IS A LARGE, INTERCONNECTED PROGRAMME AIMED AT SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS' INTERNET ACCESS AND ONLINE SAFETY AND EMPOWERING THEM TO USE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES EFFECTIVELY. OUR OUTREACH STRATEGY, IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE DIGITAL ACTION LAB, PRIORITISES THOSE FACING THE TWIN CHALLENGES OF RESTRICTED CIVIC SPACE AND STRUCTURAL DISCRIMINATION. IN FY2024, THE CALL FOR THE 2024 DIGITAL ACTION LAB RECEIVED 1,500 APPLICATIONS. WE ENGAGED 430 LOCAL AND REGIONAL ACTORS IN SIX GLOBAL REGIONS EAST ASIA, EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA, LATIN AMERICA, THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, SOUTH ASIA AND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA IN CO-DESIGN WORKSHOPS TO GENERATE IDEAS THAT WERE THEN REFINED INTO 12 PROTOTYPES.
  3. $1.2 million spent. RESEARCH: A PROMINENT FUNCTION OF THE CIVIC SPACE RESEARCH CLUSTER INCLUDES THE COORDINATION OF THE CIVICUS MONITOR, AN ONLINE TOOL THAT TRACKS CONDITIONS FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN OVER 198 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES. WE WORK WITH MORE THAN 20 REGIONAL RESEARCH (CIVIL SOCIETY) PARTNERS IN DOCUMENTING THE STATE OF FREEDOMS OF CIVIL SOCIETY AROUND THE GLOBE AND PROVIDE QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION FOR EACH COUNTRY WITH THE GOAL TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE CONDITIONS FOR CIVIL SOCIETY WITHIN COUNTRIES AND OVER TIME. THE CIVICUS MONITOR LAUNCHES AN ANNUAL REPORT - PEOPLE POWER UNDER ATTACK - IN WHICH CIVIC SPACE TRENDS ARE ANALYSED AND NEW CIVIC SPACE RATINGS ARE ISSUED. THE CIVICUS MONITOR WAS LAUNCHED IN 2016 AND HAS BECOME A GO-TO SOURCE FOR CIVIC SPACE ISSUES AMONG CIVIL SOCIETY, ACADEMIA AND OTHERS.
  4. $198,736 spent. COMMUNICATIONS
  5. $865,846 spent. CS RESOURCING
  6. $583,195 spent. MEMBERSHIP AND NETWORKS
  7. $285,406 spent. STRATEGY AND GOVERNANCE
  8. $383,015 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 1993.

    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.