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Fair Labor Association

EIN 52-2183112 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The mission of the Fair Labor Association (FLA) is to protect workers' rights and improve working conditions worldwide for more than five million workers in the factories and farms of our affiliates. (see schedule o)

Income
$11.5 million
Spending
$11.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
30
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$363,708, president & 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $3.6 million spent. Supply Chain Innovation: the FLA develops and tests innovative methods to improve conditions for workers across product supply chains. Our work responds to the complex, multi-layered nature of supply chains and the potential human and labor rights risks within them. Collaboration is a cornerstone of the FLA's research and innovation initiatives. We leverage the knowledge and experience of companies, suppliers, governments, and civil society organizations to promote collective action and achieve impact for workers.
  2. $2.7 million spent. Accreditation: accountability is at the heart of our mission to improve workers' lives. Companies that demonstrate they meet international labor standards in their supply chain may earn accreditation of their program from the FLA. FLA accreditation is the gold standard for a systems approach to protecting workers' rights and social responsibility. It provides a basis for investors and consumers to make informed investing and purchasing choices. It is the only comprehensive program of its kind that fully aligns with the international labor organization standards, and helps companies meet the U.N. guiding principles, and the organization for economic cooperation and development guiding principles for responsible business conduct. A company's accreditation signifies that it understands the importance of its business practices on workplace conditions in its supply chain, has put effective systems in place to prevent workplace abuses, and commits to remediating violations that occur.
  3. $1.9 million spent. Capacity Building: a core element of the FLA's program is to build the capacity of companies and collegiate licensees to implement and sustain high labor standards through the provision of guidance, resources, and tools to improve working conditions in supply chains. Training and support are provided to assist affiliates in adopting and communicating workplace standards; monitoring factories and farms; assessing and remediating noncompliance issues; and ensuring the provision of confidential reporting channels for workers in their supplier facilities. FLA staff provide guidance and training to a wide range of companies. Staff lead social compliance training and assist university affiliates in identifying gaps in licensees' supply chains so that training can be employed where risk is greatest. An important focus is the more than 150 colleges and universities that participate in the FLA's university program, through which academic institutions enact their commitment to ethical sourcing of companies manufacturing products that bear university logos.
  4. $553,359 spent. Access to Remedy: A fourth programmatic focus that underscores the FLA's commitment to transparency and accountability is our third party complaint mechanism. Through this program, any person or organization can report allegations of persistent or serious noncompliance with FLA standards at a production facility owned or used by an FLA-affiliated company, supplier, or university licensee and, in so doing, request an FLA investigation and remediation. Unions and civil society organizations play an essential role in supporting this independent grievance channel as well as bringing worker voice into our collaborative efforts.

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 December 1999.

    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.