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How to Build Up Inc

EIN 83-1982842 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOW TO BUILD UP'S (BUILD UP) GLOBAL CORE TEAM BUILDS PEACE AROUND THE WORLD BY BRINGING TOGETHER DIVERSE SKILLS: MEDIATION, NEGOTIATION, FACILITATION, MARKETING, MEDIA, FILMMAKING, DESIGN, CODING, DATA ANALYSIS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND GRAPHIC RECORDING.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 52%
Employees
1
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$154,224, ceo/consultant

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $884,523 spent. OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT AREA OF PROGRAMMING IN 2025 WAS FOCUSED ON DIGITAL CONFLICT. THIS WORK FOCUSES ON ANALYZING ONLINE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CONFLICTS, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THEN IDENTIFYING PROGRAMMING OR POLICY ENTRY POINTS TO ADDRESS THEM.
  2. $653,606 spent. THE NEXT MOST SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF BUILD UP'S WORK IN 2025 WAS IN THE AREA OF INCLUSIVE POLITICS WHERE WE PROVIDED SUPPORT TO PEACEBUILDING PROCESSES AT THE INTERSECTION OF GOVERNANCE AND DEMOCRATIZATION USING PARTICIPATORY METHODOLOGIES, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND PEACEBUILDING EXPERTISE.
  3. $174,884 spent. BUILD UP DEVELOPED A SUBSTANTIAL OPEN SOURCE PEACEBUILDING TOOL ENABLING PEACEBUILDERS TO "LISTEN" TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND GAIN GREATER UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS DRIVING DIGITAL CONFLICTS. THIS TOOL IS REFERRED TO AS PHOENIX AND HAS BECOME RECOGNIZED AND ADOPTED BY MANY IN THE PEACEBUILDING FIELD. BUILD UP ALSO PROVIDED TRAINING TO ALLOW OTHERS TO USE THE TOOL PROFICIENTLY.
  4. $92,201 spent. BUILD UP HELD ITS 12TH ANNUAL BUILD PEACE CONFERENCE IN SPAIN

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 April 2019.

    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.