Center for Global Development
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
REDUCE GLOBAL POVERTY AND IMPROVE LIVES THROUGH INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC RESEARCH THAT DRIVES BETTER POLICY AND PRACTICE BY THE WORLD'S TOP DECISION MAKERS. WE FOCUS ON THE INTERSECTION OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE GOVERNMENTS, INSTITUTIONS AND CORPORATIONS THAT CAN HELP THEM DELIVER GREATER PROGRESS.
- Income
- $23.6 million
- Spending
- $18.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 17.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 87
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $479,260, president (until 07/24)
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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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 (1)
- $15.3 million spent. GLOBAL HEALTH - AS MORE COUNTRIES RISE OUT OF POVERTY, CGD IS FOCUSING ON THE INEQUITIES AND EMERGING PROBLEMS THAT JEOPARDIZE GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRESS: HOW SHOULD GOVERNMENTS ALLOCATE SCARCE HEALTH BUDGETS RATIONALLY? HOW CAN GLOBAL HEALTH DONORS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS ADVANCE GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY, PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS, AND HEALTH SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES? WHAT ARE EVIDENCE-INFORMED POLICIES TO ADDRESS MARKET FAILURES THAT SPAN FROM EARLY-STAGE PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPLY CHAIN EFFICIENCY AND ENSURE HEALTH PRODUCT MARKETS WORK FOR THE POOR? CGD RESEARCH HELPS POLICYMAKERS BUILD SUSTAINABLE HEALTH SYSTEMS, RESPOND TO SHIFTING REALITIES, AND DELIVER VALUE FOR MONEY.SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE - TO MEET THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THE WORLD MUST RAMP UP DEVELOPMENT FINANCING FROM BILLIONS TO TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THIS REQUIRES EXPANDING THE EXISTING PATHWAYS, BUT ALSO UNLOCKING NEW RESOURCES, WHILE RESPECTING THE DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE WORLD'S MOST DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE. CGD'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE PROGRAM WORKS TO ADVANCE THESE GOALS IN PURSUIT OF A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.EDUCATION - CGD'S EDUCATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BROAD WELFARE GOALS AND SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE EDUCATION CAN PLAY IN ADDRESSING INEQUITY. DESPITE THE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN INCREASING SCHOOL ACCESS, EDUCATION HAS NOT YET FULFILLED ITS PROMISE OF BEING THE GREAT SOCIETAL EQUALIZER. CGD'S RESEARCH EXAMINES THE MECHANISMS THROUGH WHICH EDUCATION CAN GIVE CHILDREN EQUAL LIFE OPPORTUNITIES AND BUILD THE HUMAN CAPITAL THAT NATIONS NEED TO PROSPER.
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 2025.
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 June 2002.
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.