Population Connection
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OVERPOPULATION THREATENS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. POPULATION CONNECTION IS THE NATIONAL GRASSROOTS POPULATION ORGANIZATION THAT EDUCATES YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADVOCATES PROGRESSIVE ACTION TO STABILIZE WORLD POPULATION AT A LEVEL THAT CAN BE SUSTAINED BY EARTH'S RESOURCES.
- Income
- $17.0 million
- Spending
- $13.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 29.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 44
- Volunteers
- 234
- Highest pay
- $388,845, president & ceo
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (social science, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 45% of charities in its peer group (social science, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 (5)
- $2.6 million spent. FIELD AND OUTREACH: FIELD AND OUTREACH: TO ASSIST POPULATION CONNECTION ACTIVISTS NATIONWIDE IN BUILDING AND SUSTAINING STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATIONAL, MEDIA AND LOBBYING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF POPULATION CONNECTION THROUGH ORGANIZING AND PROVIDING TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING. REPRESENT POPULATION CONNECTION IN COALITIONS FOCUSED ON GRASSROOTS ACTION AND AT PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS AS NEEDED. 2024 HIGLIGHTS INCLUDE: TWO OF OUR FIELD STAFF ATTENDED THE NETROOTS NATION CONFERENCE IN BALTIMORE, IN JULY, AND AS AN ORGANIZATION WE SPONSORED 10 ACTIVISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO ATTEND THE EVENT, AS WELL. WE ALSO TABLED AT NETROOTS, HANDING OUT SWAG AND COLLECTING #FIGHT4HER PETITION SIGNATURES. WE ENGAGED ACTIVISTS ONLINE, FOLLOWING THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION, ASKING OUR SUPPORTERS TO URGE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DO EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO PROTECT GLOBAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE, AND ASKING OUR SUPPORTERS TO CONTACT THEIR CONGRESSPEOPLE, ASKING THEM TO VOTE NO ON A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE HAD THE POWER TO STRIP NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OF THEIR NON-PROFIT STATUS IF THEY WERE DEEMED A "TERRORIST SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION" BY THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
- $2.6 million spent. POPULATION EDUCATION: TO PROMOTE POPULATION LITERACY AMONG AMERICAN YOUTH BY (1) PROVIDING EDUCATORS WITH TEACHING RESOURCES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS TO HELP THEM EFFECTIVELY COVER POPULATION DYNAMICS AND THEIR IMPACTS IN K-12 CLASSROOMS; AND (2) PREPARING EDUCATORS TO OFFER TRAINING TO OTHER TEACHERS THROUGH THE POPULATION EDUCATION TRAINING NETWORK (PETNET). FINALLY, TO PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION ENABLING FORMER TRAINEES TO APPLY THEIR TRAINING MOST EFFECTIVELY. 2024 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:- STAFF AND VOLUNTEER TEACHER TRAINERS CONDUCTED 627 POP ED WORKSHOPS (BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL) FOR EDUCATORS IN 47 U.S. STATES AND TERRITORIES AND 4 CANADIAN PROVINCES. - FACILITATED 2 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES TO TRAIN NEW WORKSHOP FACILITATORS. THESE WERE HELD IN CHARLOTTE, NC AND DETROIT, MI FOR A TOTAL OF 51 NEW TRAINERS.- JUDGED 2,293 STUDENT VIDEO SUBMISSIONS TO THE 13TH ANNUAL WORLD OF 8 BILLION VIDEO CONTEST FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COVERING THE TOPICS OF CLIMATE MIGRATION, INVASIVE SPECIES, AND HEALTH- FACILITATED A GRADUATE-LEVEL ONLINE COURSE FOR 22 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS THROUGH ADAMS STATE UNIVERSITY DURING THE SUMMER OF 2024.- COMPLETED A NEW EDITION OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM, "COUNTING ON PEOPLE: K-5 ACTIVITIES FOR GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP"- EXHIBITED MATERIALS AT TWO MAJOR TEACHER CONVENTIONS (NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION DENVER; NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES IN BOSTON).- WE HAD 219 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS IN 2024.
- $2.5 million spent. MEMBERSHIP: SUCCESS IN THE AREAS OF ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE SUPPORT AND DEDICATION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MEMBERS. WE HAVE 40,000 MEMBERS ACROSS THE NATION, HELPING REACH OUR GOALS THROUGH PUBLIC OUTREACH, SUCH AS SHARING INFORMATION AT LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS, HOSTING VIRTUAL EVENTS, DISTRIBUTING OUR MAGAZINE, OR WRITING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. WE SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS BY PROVIDING MATERIALS FOR THEIR DISTRIBUTION, PAYING REGISTRATION AND LOGISTICAL FEES FOR LOCAL EVENTS SUCH AS EARTH DAY, HOLDING TRAINING AND INFORMATION SESSIONS, RESPONDING TO THEIR CORRESPONDENCE AND REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, AND ORDERS FOR OUR PRODUCTS AND/OR PUBLICATIONS. IN 2024, WE HOSTED 19 VIRTUAL EVENTS WITH DEMOGRAPHY EXPERTS, GLOBAL PARTNERS, AND POPULATION-FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS, SPOTLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATING POPULATION DYNAMICS INTO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. THESE SESSIONS COVERED DIVERSE TOPICSDEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, CONSERVATION, AND MOREENGAGING MORE THAN 900 PARTICIPANTS IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSIONS AND RAISING AWARENESS ON CRITICAL ISSUES.
- $2.3 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS: TO KEEP POPULATION CONNECTION MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, JOURNALISTS, AND EDITORS UP TO DATE ON DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL POPULATION ISSUES. 2024 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: POPULATION CONNECTION PUBLISHED:- FOUR ISSUES OF POPULATION CONNECTION MAGAZINE, CIRCULATION ABOUT 65,000; HARD COPIES MAILED TO POPULATION CONNECTION MEMBERS, EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS, AND OVER 3,000 PUBLIC AND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES. - FOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR IN U.S. NEWSPAPERS, TWO OF THEM IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE OTHERS IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND THE GUARDIAN- TWO OP-EDS, IN MS. MAGAZINE AND EARTH.ORG- 35 BLOG POSTS ON THE POPULATION CONNECTION WEBSITE, RANGING IN TOPIC FROM DECLINING BIRTH RATES TO BIODIVERSITY LOSS- FREQUENT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, THREADS, X, BLUESKY, AND LINKEDIN- NEW WEBSITE PAGES, CONTENT, AND UPDATES- ORIGINAL FOCUS GROUP AND SURVEY RESEARCH ON AMERICANS' FERTILITY PREFERENCES
- $285,442 spent. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: TO INFORM CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT POPULATION ISSUES AND TO ADVOCATE THE ADOPTION OF MEASURES TO MOVE THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD TOWARDS STABILIZING POPULATION; TO INFLUENCE POPULATION-RELATED LEGISLATION; TO MOBILIZE MEMBERS TO TAKE ACTION. POPULATION CONNECTION'S (PC) GLOBAL PARTNERS PROGRAM (GPP) BEGAN IN 2020. AT THAT TIME, WE HAD JUST FIVE (5) NGOS, LARGE AND SMALL, WELL-FINANCED AND NOT. PC GAVE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED GRANTS TO HELP SUBSIDIZE THE GPS' WORKED AND WORK WITH FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT, UNINTENDED PREGNANCY, ILLNESS, AND OTHER LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEMS. TODAY, THE GPP CONSISTS OF 21 NGOS, WHO GET SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED GRANTS AND DONATIONS ONCE A YEAR. AT THIS TIME, THE PROGRAM IS HALE AND HEARTY, AND SUCCEEDS IN HELPING THE GLOBAL PARTNERS OVERSEE THEIR NGOS' VITAL PROGRAMS RELATED TO PHE.PHE, OR "POPULATION, HEALTH, AND EDUCATION," IS OUR ORGANIZATION'S CALLING CARD. IT'S ALSO SHORTHAND FOR OUR MISSION OF BEING THE "[N]ATIONAL GRASSROOTS POPULATION ORGANIZATION THAT EDUCATES YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADVOCATES PROGRESSIVE ACTION TO STABILIZE WORLD POPULATION AT A LEVEL THAT CAN BE SUSTAINED BY EARTH'S RESOURCES." WE WORK ON THE POPULATION ISSUE, WHICH IS INTERRELATED WITH GLOBAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION ISSUES. MOST OF OUR GP'S ARE NGOS WORKING ON SOME ASPECT OF PHE. OTHER NGOS WORK WITHIN ONE OF THE PHE COMPONENTS, EITHER EDUCATION OR HEALTH. HOWEVER, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THESE COMPONENTS ARE SO CLOSELY RELATED THAT THEY TEND TO CROSS EACH OTHER MORE TIMES THAN NOT. WE HAVE SEVERAL WAYS TO RECRUIT GLOBAL PARTNERS. 99% OF GLOBAL PARTNERS ARE LOCATED IN LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA, WHERE WE HAVE MANY CONTACTS MADE FROM OUR LONG HISTORY OF WORKING ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS AS WELL AS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS. WE ALSO HAVE A NETWORK AMONG OTHER NONPROFITS FROM THE UNITED STATES, AND OHER COUNTRIES, DOIJNG WORK SIMILAR TO OURS. THE GLOBAL PARTNERS ARE PART OF OUR NETWORK, AND SOMETIMES REFER OTHER NONPROFITS TO THE PROGRAM. WE ALSO HEAR ABOUT NGOS VIA COLD EMAILSFOUNDERS OF AN NGO, OR AFFILIATES OF AN NGO--WHO EMAIL US, ASKING US TO TAKE THEM INTO THE GLOBAL PARTNERS PROGRAM. OTHER WAYS WE CAN FIND POTENTIAL GP'S ARE SERENDIPITOUS. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF OUR LONGER-TERM GP'S IS THE NASARUNI SCHOOL FOR MAASAI GIRLS. WE HEARD ABOUT THE SCHOOL BECAUSE ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS KNEW ONE OF THE SCHOOL'S BOARD MEMBERS. OUR PROCESS IS WHEN WE FIND OUT ABOUT AN NGO, WE VET THEM. MANY OF OUR GP'S WORK WITH YOUNG WOMENTHAT'S THE EDUCATION PART OF PHE, WHEN SCHOOLS AND ACTIVITIES PROVIDE GIRLS WITH EDUCATION ABOUT THEIR OWN HEALTHCARE. ANOTHER GROUP, IN KENYA, CALLED HOPE FOR KENYA SLUM ADOLESCENT INITIATIVE (HKSAI), ALSO WORKS WITH ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT WOMEN. BEFORE STARTING HKSAI, MAXINE OUYO, WORKED WITH POPULATION CONNECTION ON VARIOUS PROJECTS, INCLUDING TRAVELING TO CAMPUSES TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR ISSUES. WHEN MELVINE FELT COMPELLED TO FOUND AN NGO WITH GIRLS AS ITS FOCUS, WE WERE SUPPORTIVE AND ADDED THE ORGANIZATION TO THE GPP. WE LOOK FOR NGOS EMBEDDED IN, AND ORGANIC TO, THEIR COMMUNITY. MANY GROUP MISSIONS ARE SIMILAR, LIKE IMPROVING THE FUTURES OF CHILDREN VIA CLASSROOM-TYPE EDUCATION, AND OFFERING ADULT EDUCATION THAT IMPROVES ADULT LIVES, VIA FINANCIAL STABILITY. THE END GOAL, OF COURSE, OF THE NGO ACTIVITIES IS TO NURTURE HEALTHY FAMILIES; BRING OR IMPROVE LITERACY TO THE COMMUNITY; AND CREATE AND MAINTAIN EASY ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING REPRODUCTIVE AND MATERNAL HEALTH. GLOBAL PARTNERS HAVE A FEW OBLIGATIONS WHEN WORKING WITH US. AS NOTED, THE NGO'S GET GRANTS; IN EXCHANGE, THEY SIGN A "GRANT AGREEMENT." THE GLOBAL PARTNERS ARE REQUIRED TO SEND POPULATION CONNECTION AN ANNUAL GRANT REPORT AND ACCOMPANYING FINANCIAL INFORMATION ONCE A YEAR. IN THE REPORT, THEY DESCRIBE HOW THEY SPENT THEIR GRANT, AND NOTE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES WHEN THEY HAD THE GRANTS. THEY OFTEN DESCRIBE "ACCOMPLISHMENTS" AROUND THEIR WORK, AND "CHALLENGES" TO THEIR WORK.WE INVITE GLOBAL PARTNERS TO TELL THEIR STORIES TO OUR SUPPORTERS. WE HOLD VIRTUAL TALKS WHERE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION - OFTEN THE HEAD OF THE ORGANIZATION OR EVEN THE FOUNDER - DESCRIBES THE GROUPS' STAKEHOLDERS, ACTIVITIES THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATE IN, AND WHAT THE PARTICIPANT STAKEHODLERS LEARN AS A RESULT. SPEAKERS SOMETIMES DESCRIBE FUTURE PLANS. THESE PRESENTATIONS ALLOWS OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS A WAY TO MEET AND BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THESE AMAZING AND HARDWORKING NGOS. WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING OTHER WAYS WE MIGHT USE THE PARTNERS TO PASS ON STORIES THAT WILL FAMILIARIZE AMERICANS WITH THE STRUGGLES THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED EXPERIENCE AND, HOPEFULLY, WHAT WAS LEARNED FROM THE ACTIVITIES. GIRL UP INITIATIVE UGANDA: WITH THE HELP OF THE GPP GRANT, THE GIRL UP INITIATIVE IN UGANDA WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN RETURNING TO SCHOOL AND REMAINING THERE, WHICH IS A CORE FOCUS OF THEIR INITIATIVES. THEY REINFORCED THEIR EFFORTS BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT TO 513 ADOLESCENTS CUMULATIVELY. SUPPORT INCLUDED SCHOOL FEES, SCHOLASTIC MATERIALS, AND NECESSITIES SUCH AS SANITARY PADS AND SOAP.WITH A GRANT FROM POPULATION CONNECTION, GIRL UP WAS ABLE TO EXPAND THEIR REACH TO SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ALONG WITH THE OTHER GIRLS. THEY RECOGNIZE THAT SUPPORTING GIRLS THROUGH BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IS CRUCIAL IN HELPING THEM ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL. EXTENDING HELP TO SECONDARY SCHOOL GIRL STUDENTS REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO THE GIRLS' CONTINUED EDUCATION.OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD. THE EVENT WAS SUBTITLED "GIRLS' VISION FOR THE FUTURE, AND GIRL UP WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANTS. THE EVENT WAS DESIGNED TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF THE GIRLS, PROVIDING THEM A PLATFORM TO EXPRESS THEIR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL AND ASPIRATIONS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED A LARGE COMMUNITY MARCH THROUGH KIROMBE AND LUZIRA, WHERE THE GIRLS LED A PROCES
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 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 November 1979.
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.
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