Sesame Workshop International Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SESAME WORKSHOP INTERNATIONAL'S MISSION IS TO CARRY OUT THE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF SESAME WORKSHOP, INTERNATIONALLY, HELPING KIDS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD GROW SMARTER, STRONGER AND KINDER.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -19.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $1.1 million, ceo
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
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 824% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 103% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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 (1)
- $2.0 million spent. SESAME WORKSHOP INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTS SESAME WORKSHOP BY CONDUCTING AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES THAT FURTHER THE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF SESAME WORKSHOP, PARTICULARLY IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT. INITIALLY, THE ORGANIZATION INTENDS TO COORDINATE AND SUPPORT A PROGRAM OF DIRECT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES INCLUDING SOUTH AFRICA AND JORDAN. IN THE FUTURE, HOWEVER, THE ORGANIZATION MAY EXPAND ITS ACTIVITIES ON SESAME'S BEHALF TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND MAY DISCONTINUE OR SCALE BACK ITS WORK IN THE ABOVE-LISTED JURISDICTIONS IN FAVOR OF INITIATING ACTIVITIES ELSEWHERE. THROUGH ITS WORK ON BEHALF OF SESAME WORKSHOP, THE ORGANIZATION CARRIES OUT EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, DEVELOPS CORRESPONDING MATERIAL FOR EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMMING, AND COORDINATES WITH OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT AND FUND RELATED PHILANTHROPIC WORK IN THESE AREAS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SUCH SUPPORT THROUGH DIRECT PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO LOCAL AND OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS IN WHICH IT OPERATES. SESAME WORKSHOP INTERNATIONAL IS PROVIDING THE SUPPORT DESCRIBED ABOVE THROUGH LOCAL BRANCH OFFICES ESTABLISHED IN SOUTH AFRICA, JORDAN, GERMANY, MEXICO, AND IRAQ.
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
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 June 2025.
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 January 2020.
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.