World Around Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 59 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE WORLD AROUND IS A GLOBAL NONPROFIT PLATFORM WITH A SIMPLE BUT AMBITIOUS MISSION: TO MAKE THE BEST NEW IDEAS IN ARCHITECTURE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. THE WORLD AROUNDS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PUBLIC PROGRAMS SHARE THE NOW, NEAR AND NEXT OF CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN CULTURE WITH A FOCUS ON INTERDISCIPLINARY, PROGRESSIVE, ACTIONABLE IDEAS AND CLIMATE JUSTICE.
- Income
- $707,493
- Spending
- $792,310
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- -0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 44%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $120,165, executive director
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
Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 260% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 53% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 59 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
Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
0 of 252 of 2 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $172,859 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS - THE WORLD AROUND'S GENERAL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EXTEND THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION YEAR-ROUND, BEYOND ITS FLAGSHIP EVENTS LIKE THE SUMMIT AND IN FOCUS SERIES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE MAINTENANCE OF A COMPREHENSIVE NEWSLETTER THAT KEEPS A GLOBAL AUDIENCE ENGAGED WITH THE LATEST IN ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOURSE, AS WELL AS THE CREATION OF MULTIMEDIA CONTENT THAT AMPLIFIES KEY MESSAGES AND PROJECTS. A CORNERSTONE OF THE GENERAL PROGRAMS IS THE YOUNG CLIMATE PRIZE, WHICH IMPACTS 25 EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE AGE OF 25 BY PAIRING THEM WITH MENTORS FROM THE DESIGN INDUSTRY. THIS INITIATIVE NOT ONLY NURTURES YOUNG TALENT BUT ALSO PROVIDES GRANTS TO THREE WINNERS AND FULLY FUNDS THEIR TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY, WHERE THEY PRESENT THEIR WORK AT THE ANNUAL SUMMIT. ADDITIONALLY, GENERAL PROGRAMS SUPPORT VITAL ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, ENSURING THE WORLD AROUND CONTINUES TO BE A SUSTAINABLE AND DYNAMIC FORCE FOR PROMOTING DIALOGUE AND INNOVATION IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
- $130,323 spent. IN FOCUS - THE IN FOCUS SERIES REPRESENTS THE WORLD AROUND'S TRAVELING PROGRAMS, DESIGNED TO BRING TARGETED AND THEMATIC DISCUSSIONS TO NEW AUDIENCES ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN 2023, WE ORGANIZED AN IMPACTFUL IN FOCUS EVENT IN MILAN CENTERED ON THE THEME OF "RADICAL REPAIR," EXPLORING INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION. THIS PROGRAM CONVENED LEADING EXPERTS AND CREATIVE THINKERS TO SHARE INSIGHTS ON ADDRESSING ECOLOGICAL CHALLENGES THROUGH BOLD, REGENERATIVE PRACTICES. THE EVENT WAS BROADCAST WORLDWIDE AND ARCHIVED ON OUR WEBSITE AND ONLINE CHANNELS, MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE TO A BROAD AUDIENCE AND EXTENDING ITS REACH BEYOND PHYSICAL ATTENDEES. THE IN FOCUS SERIES UNDERSCORES THE WORLD AROUND'S COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING IN-DEPTH, GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS ON CRITICAL TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN, ENSURING THAT THESE DIALOGUES CONTRIBUTE TO A COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING AND ACTION TOWARD A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
- $112,629 spent. SUMMIT - THE WORLD AROUND SUMMIT IS OUR FLAGSHIP ANNUAL EVENT, DEDICATED TO SHARING THE MOST VISIONARY AND IMPACTFUL IDEAS IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN. THIS PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER A DISTINGUISHED LINEUP OF INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS-FROM LEADING ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS TO EMERGING TALENTS AND WINNERS OF OUR YOUNG CLIMATE PRIZE-TO PRESENT THEIR WORK AND INSIGHTS. FOCUSED ON ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, THE SUMMIT SERVES AS A GLOBAL PLATFORM FOR SHOWCASING PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL CHALLENGES. LIVESTREAMED AND BROADCAST FREE OF CHARGE TO A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE, THE SUMMIT EMBODIES THE WORLD AROUND'S MISSION TO MAKE CUTTING-EDGE ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN DISCOURSE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. BY REACHING THOUSANDS OF VIEWERS ACROSS CONTINENTS, WE AIM TO DEMOCRATIZE KNOWLEDGE, INSPIRE ACTIONABLE CHANGE, AND FOSTER A GLOBAL NETWORK COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE PRACTICES IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
- $85,909 spent. OTHER: YOUNG CLIMATE PRIZE
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 July 2021.
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.