Build Up Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BUILD UP, INC. (BUI) IS A PUBLIC CHARITY THAT OPERATES AS A FISCAL SPONSOR AND CAPACITY BUILDER PROVIDING BRAVE WOMEN AND BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC)-LED NONPROFIT START-UPS, ORGANIZATIONS, NETWORKS, AND COLLECTIVES THAT SUPPORT UNDER-RESOURCED AND HISTORICALLY INVISIBILIZED COMMUNITIES WITH THE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPACITY. BUILD UP, INC.'S SPONSORSHIP OF PROJECTS AND IDEAS ENCOURAGES INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY, REQUIRING PROJECTS AND IDEAS THAT ATTEMPT TO POSITIVELY CHANGE OR IMPACT THE WORLD.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 9.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
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: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 452% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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.
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)
- $425,250 spent. NNA - THE NEXT NARRATIVE AFRICA FUND AIMS TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT AFRICA AND PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT BY TELLING AFRICAN STORIES FOR GLOBAL IMPACT. IT WILL ALSO FUEL THE GROWTH OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN AFRICA, EMPOWER ARTISTS BY PROMOTING BUSINESS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS ACROSS AFRICA AND ITS DIASPORA.
- $139,451 spent. NNCG - THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF CONSULTANTS TO GRANTMAKERS IS A COMMUNITY OF CONSULTANTS THAT BUILDS KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO SUPPORT AN EQUITABLE, IMPACTFUL, AND VIBRANT PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR. SINCE 2006, NNCG HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO SHAPE AND LEAD THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR TOWARDS MEANINGFUL CHANGE BY FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON OUR CORE CONSTITUENCY: CONSULTANTS WHO WORK WITH GRANTMAKERS. WE PROMOTE COLLECTIVE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, SHARED RESOURCES, AND BEST PRACTICES IN OUR MEMBERSHIP AND THE FIELD OF PHILANTHROPY.
- $55,237 spent. LIONESS - JIWA IS AN ADVOCACY GROUP OF CURRENTLY AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED GIRLS AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND BUILD A POWERFUL PRESENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. THE PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO END THE INCARCERATION AND SYSTEMATIC DEVALUING OF GIRLS AND WOMEN WITHIN THE TEXAS CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. THE PROJECT ENVISIONS A SOCIETY WHERE THEY AND THEIR SISTERS ARE SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, AND PHYSICALLY FREE FROM ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AND HARM IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. THEIR VISION WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH RADICAL ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, AND LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
- $91,145 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE ORJ, AC, CDU, WPCR, IAMPROSE, NEGES MAWON, RRSOL AND SCALE UP AFRICA.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.