Nonprofit Enterprise and Self-Sustainability Team Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NESST PROVIDES CATALYTIC CAPITAL TO SOCIAL ENTERPRISES THAT CREATE QUALITY JOBS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHILE SUSTAINING THE PLANET.
- Income
- $4.8 million
- Spending
- $4.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 45
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $236,673, ceo (thru 4/25)
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
Fair: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 54% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 11 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
- $2.1 million spent. NESST PROVIDES CAPACITY SUPPORT AND GRANTS OR RECOVERABLE GRANTS THROUGH OUR ACCELERATION PROGRAMS TO SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN LATIN AMERICA, NOTABLY BRAZIL, PERU, COLOMBIA, CHILE AND ECUADOR TO HELP PROVIDE INCOME-GENERATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MARGINALIZED GROUPS. MANY OF THESE GROUPS ARE OPERATING IN THE AMAZON AND ANDES AND ARE HELPING TO DEVELOP NOT ONLY WAYS TO IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOODS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO CONSERVE AND PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS FACING THREATS OF DEFORESTATION, NATURAL DISASTERS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE AND THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY.
- $802,761 spent. NESST PROVIDES CAPACITY SUPPORT AND GRANTS OR RECOVERABLE GRANTS THROUGH OUR ACCELERATION PROGRAMS TO SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE, NOTABLY IN POLAND AND ROMANIA, TO HELP PROVIDE INCOME-GENERATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MARGINALIZED GROUPS. MANY OF THESE GROUPS ARE HELPING MIGRANTS, PARTICULARLY FROM UKRAINE, OR THEY ARE HELPING AT RISK WOMEN AND YOUTH GAIN CRITICAL JOB TRAINING TO INTEGRATE INTO HIGHER PAYING JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
- $345,555 spent. NESST THROUGH ITS IMPACT INVESTMENT FUNDS PROVIDES MORE APPROPRIATE, PATIENT CAPITAL AND MEZZANINE DEBT TO SUPPORT SOCIAL ENTERPRISES. IN LATIN AMERICA, THIS INVESTMENT IS DONE THROUGH THE LIRIO FUND THAT FOCUSES ON HELPING VULNERABLE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE ANDES AND AMAZON. IN CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE, THIS INVESTMENT IS DONE THROUGH THE VIOLET FUND THAT FOCUSES ON S.M.E.S THAT ADOPT POLICIES TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS INCLUDING PEOPLE FROM THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY AND MIGRANTS, PARTICULARLY FROM UKRAINE.
- $115,353 spent. WORKING WITH PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT, NESST ALSO WORKS WITH OTHER ECOSYSTEM PLAYERS TO ORGANIZE FORUMS AND EVENTS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AMONG ENTERPRENEURS, DONORS AND POLICY MAKERS TO ASSIST IN MAKING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES MORE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.