Totals
- Total revenue
- $7,738,411
- Total expenses
- $7,529,581
- Contributions and grants received
- $7,302,135
- Grants paid
- $64,886
- Program service revenue
- $6,117
- Investment income
- $400,782
- Other revenue
- $29,377
- Total assets, end of year
- $15,722,114
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $1,227,413
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $14,494,701
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $5,364,416
- Management and general expenses
- $1,427,583
- Fundraising expenses
- $737,582
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $5,364,416
Program services were 71.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$4,331,563
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$2,970,572
-
2a · Program service revenue: HONORARIA
total $6,117 · related or exempt $6,117
-
3 · Investment income
total $256,087 · excluded $256,087
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $7,375,263
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $7,230,568
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $144,695
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $144,695 · excluded $144,695
-
11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS
total $20,590 · excluded $20,590
-
11b · Other revenue: TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS
total $8,135 · excluded $8,135
-
11c · Other revenue: FX. CONVERSION LOSS
total $652 · excluded $652
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$29,377
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $19,500 · program services $19,500
-
3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals
total $45,386 · program services $45,386
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $442,759 · program services $262,282 · management and general $118,177 · fundraising $62,300
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $3,735,512 · program services $2,751,045 · management and general $579,360 · fundraising $405,107
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $115,226 · program services $84,843 · management and general $17,883 · fundraising $12,500
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $747,037 · program services $552,364 · management and general $114,070 · fundraising $80,603
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $214,602 · program services $155,422 · management and general $35,316 · fundraising $23,864
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $14,888 · program services $3,381 · management and general $10,142 · fundraising $1,365
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $41,859 · management and general $41,859
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $38,784 · fundraising $38,784
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $44,195 · management and general $44,195
-
11g · Fees: other
total $519,610 · program services $188,138 · management and general $290,256 · fundraising $41,216
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $9,456 · program services $7,067 · management and general $1,733 · fundraising $656
-
13 · Office expenses
total $64,917 · program services $43,865 · management and general $10,313 · fundraising $10,739
-
14 · Information technology
total $160,341 · program services $133,920 · management and general $26,421
-
16 · Occupancy
total $71,872 · program services $51,126 · management and general $13,193 · fundraising $7,553
-
17 · Travel
total $657,791 · program services $632,590 · management and general $20,869 · fundraising $4,332
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $20,373 · program services $17,997 · management and general $1,724 · fundraising $652
-
20 · Interest
total $6 · management and general $6
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $66,382 · program services $47,131 · management and general $11,949 · fundraising $7,302
-
23 · Insurance
total $59,647 · program services $42,430 · management and general $10,949 · fundraising $6,268
-
24a · Other expenses: PAYROLL SERVICES
total $310,003 · program services $231,679 · management and general $56,823 · fundraising $21,501
-
24b · Other expenses: PROGRAM EQUIPMENT
total $37,589 · program services $37,589
-
24c · Other expenses: RECRUITMENT
total $32,285 · program services $24,128 · management and general $5,918 · fundraising $2,239
-
24d · Other expenses: PROGRAM EXPENSES
total $17,829 · program services $13,324 · management and general $3,268 · fundraising $1,237
-
24e · All other expenses
total $41,732 · program services $19,209 · management and general $13,159 · fundraising $9,364
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $310,011 · end of year $332,761
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $2,669,327 · end of year $1,260,628
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $4,157,145 · end of year $5,222,551
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $4,130 · end of year $18,343
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $114,029 · end of year $111,917
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$308,797
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$209,006
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $125,571 · end of year $99,791
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $7,585,186 · end of year $8,525,955
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $143,935 · end of year $150,168
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $366,950 · end of year $477,413
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $13,280
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $750,946 · end of year $750,000
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $9,940,985 · end of year $8,989,482
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $4,037,173 · end of year $5,505,219
Mission and programs · 2023
Mission
WITNESS INC. ("WITNESS") IS AN INTERNATIONAL, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS.
Activities or mission (Part I)
WITNESS HELPS PEOPLE USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES GLOBALLY. WITNESS' GLOBAL TEAM DESIGNS SOLUTIONS, PROVIDES GUIDANCE, AND CO-DEVELOPS STRATEGIES THAT ENABLE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE TO HOLD THE POWERFUL TO ACCOUNT, STAND UP FOR JUSTICE, AND FORTIFY THE TRUTH.
-
TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING:WITNESS TRAININGS HELP FILL CRITICAL GAPS IN THE USE OF VIDEO FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, ENSURING THAT THE VIDEOS PEOPLE OFTEN GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO CAPTURE CAN BE TRUSTED AND VERIFIED; THAT THE PEOPLE WHO RECORD THESE VIDEOS CAN STAY SAFE AND MANAGE RISK; THAT EVIDENTIARY VIDEOS CAN BE FOUND AMIDST MASS VOLUME; THAT MOVEMENTS AND GROUPS CAN USE VISUAL STORYTELLING IN STRATEGIC AND IMPACTFUL WAYS; AND THAT NEW AND EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES CAN ENABLE GREATER CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.EACH YEAR, PROGRAM STAFF PROVIDE A SERIES OF IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL TRAININGS TO COMMUNITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, JOURNALISTS, AND LAWYERS AROUND THE WORLD, SHARING CONCRETE RESOURCES, GUIDANCE, AND TOOLS AROUND THE SAFE, ETHICAL, AND EFFECTIVE USE OF VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
Expenses $4,440,158 · Grants $59,886 · Revenue $6,117
-
LEARNING AND SHARING: A PRIMARY MECHANISM BY WHICH WITNESS HELPS BUILD THE FABRIC OF ECOSYSTEMS IS THROUGH THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO LEARN AND SHARE, ENSURING THAT GUIDANCE AND TOOLS CAN BE ADAPTED TO, AND SHARED WITH, COMMUNITIES FACING SIMILAR ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD. AS PATTERNS OF WRONGDOING REPEAT THEMSELVES ACROSS BORDERS AND GEOGRAPHIES, SO TOO MUST THE STRATEGIES AND TACTICS FOR HOW VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP REALIZE OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPOSE THESE ABUSES. A ROHINGYA VILLAGER TRYING TO ARCHIVE AND PRESERVE THE MASS VOLUME OF WAR CRIMES FOOTAGE CAPTURED ON THEIR MOBILE PHONE VIA WHATSAPP IN MYANMAR CAN LEARN FROM A CIVIC JOURNALIST IN SYRIA WHO HAS ALREADY THOUGHT THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES AND WORKFLOWS IN A WAR CRIMES CONTEXT; JUST AS A COMMUNITY LEADER TRYING TO PREVENT THE ILLEGAL DEFORESTATION OF THEIR LAND IN MALAYSIA CAN LEARN FROM LOCAL LEADERS USING VIDEO EVIDENCE TO END THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS IN THE AMAZON.
Expenses $478,896
-
TECHNOLOGY THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES:BUILDING ON A RICH HISTORY OF ANTICIPATING THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES POSED BY EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, WITNESS REMAINS LASER-FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT INNOVATION OPERATES IN SERVICE OF A HEALTHY AND INFORMED SOCIETY, WHILE SERVING AND PROTECTING THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. IT ENGAGES ACTORS ACROSS THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM, BRINGING GRASSROOTS PERSPECTIVES TO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND SCALING IMPACT IN THE PROCESS. WITNESS UTILIZES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL AND UNPRECEDENTED THREATS POSED BY EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO DEVELOP THREAT MODELS, ENSURE COMPANIES TAKE RIGHTS-RESPECTING APPROACHES, AND COLLABORATE ON APPLIED RESEARCH. THE ORGANIZATION IS A THOUGHT LEADER AND CROSS-SECTOR CONVENER, ADDRESSING THE THREATS OF SYNTHETIC MEDIA, DECEPTIVE AI, SURVEILLANCE, AND SECURITY FACING THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT AT LARGE.
Expenses $420,892
-
RESOURCE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION:WITNESS ONLINE LIBRARY ENABLES PEOPLE TO ACCESS, DOWNLOAD, AND ADAPT A RANGE OF OPEN SOURCE TIPS AND GUIDANCE ON HOW TO USE VIDEO MORE SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. YEAR AFTER YEAR, WITNESS HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE OVERALL ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE RESOURCES, DEMONSTRATING APPETITE AND NEED FOR ITS MATERIALS ACROSS ISSUE AREAS, REGIONS, AND LANGUAGES. THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES THE STRATEGIC POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS AS TOOLS TO WIDELY DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE TURNING TO THESE PLATFORMS TO COMMUNICATE AND PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY.
Expenses $24,470 · Grants $5,000
As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Polly FieldsPOLLY FIELDS
CO-CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Monica AlemanMONICA ALEMAN
CO-CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Helen EnrightHELEN ENRIGHT
MEMBER, TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Sabry MohideenSABRY MOHIDEEN
MEMBER, TREASURER, (FROM 6/23)
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Michael HirschhornMICHAEL HIRSCHHORN
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Peter GabrielPETER GABRIEL
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Inca MohamedINCA MOHAMED
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Adelin CaiADELIN CAI
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Koketso MoetiKOKETSO MOETI
MEMBER, (FROM 6/23)
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Leonardo CustodioLEONARDO CUSTODIO
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Pamilla MudhrayPAMILLA MUDHRAY
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Julie OwonoJULIE OWONO
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Debora DinizDEBORA DINIZ
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Samuel GregorySAMUEL GREGORY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $250,599
- From this org
- $213,472
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $37,127
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $213,472
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $6,518
- Nontaxable benefits
- $30,609
- Filer's total
- $250,599
-
Sonali ThimmayaSONALI THIMMAYA
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
- Total calculated
- $172,840
- From this org
- $139,450
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $33,390
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $139,450
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $4,247
- Nontaxable benefits
- $29,143
- Filer's total
- $172,840
-
Kalim PatwaKALIM PATWA
DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & SYSTEMS
- Total calculated
- $177,493
- From this org
- $149,428
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $28,065
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $149,428
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $1,702
- Nontaxable benefits
- $26,363
- Filer's total
- $177,493
-
Sara FederleinSARA FEDERLEIN
DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY
- Total calculated
- $168,311
- From this org
- $135,000
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $33,311
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $135,000
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $4,115
- Nontaxable benefits
- $29,196
- Filer's total
- $168,311
-
Jacquelin ZammutoJACQUELIN ZAMMUTO
ASS. DIR. - LEARNING & SHARING
- Total calculated
- $137,139
- From this org
- $108,150
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $28,989
- Hours/week
- 40
-
Tanya KaranasiosTANYA KARANASIOS
DIR. OF GP, (UNTIL 10/24/23)
- Total calculated
- $130,222
- From this org
- $120,561
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $9,661
- Hours/week
- 40
-
Yvette Alberdingk ThijmYVETTE ALBERDINGK THIJM
FORMER OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $166,838
- From this org
- $156,881
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $9,957
- Hours/week
- 0
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $136,881
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $20,000
- Deferred
- $3,158
- Nontaxable benefits
- $6,799
- Filer's total
- $166,838
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Independent compensation consultant
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
Answered no
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- PART I, LINE 4A
- YVETTE ALBERDINGK THIJM RECEIVED A 20K SEVERANCE PAYMENT DURING THE YEAR.
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
-
$15,000
TO SUPPORT THE CRISIS RESPONSE FOR THE GAZA WAR, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EQUIPMENT AND INTERNET/COMMS BUNDLES.
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2023
- Filed
- 1 April 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2023v6.0
- Source object
- 202530919349300018
Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.
The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.