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Nonprofiteer
← INNOVATIONS FOR POVERTY ACTION

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by INNOVATIONS FOR POVERTY ACTION.

Totals

Total revenue
$53,278,625
Total expenses
$54,430,966
Contributions and grants received
$51,445,509
Grants paid
$3,610,664
Program service revenue
$492,086
Investment income
$327,895
Other revenue
$1,013,135
Total assets, end of year
$32,068,016
Total liabilities, end of year
$21,806,840
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$10,261,176
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$41,940,649
Management and general expenses
$11,776,566
Fundraising expenses
$713,751
Program service expenses (Part III)
$41,940,649

Program services were 77.1% 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)

    $2,956,677

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $48,488,832

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CONSULTANCY

    total $492,086 · related or exempt $492,086

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $327,895 · excluded $327,895

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE

    total $959,099 · related or exempt $959,099

  • 11b · Other revenue: FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION ADJ.

    total $54,036 · related or exempt $54,036

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $1,013,135

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $1,622,444 · program services $1,622,444

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $1,988,220 · program services $1,988,220

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,068,903 · program services $6,326 · management and general $1,062,577

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $24,503,147 · program services $17,709,198 · management and general $6,426,049 · fundraising $367,900

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $1,042,377 · program services $827,156 · management and general $208,419 · fundraising $6,802

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $3,945,844 · program services $3,149,647 · management and general $770,293 · fundraising $25,904

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,284,788 · program services $992,966 · management and general $283,658 · fundraising $8,164

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $601,969 · management and general $601,969

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $351,106 · management and general $351,106

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $5,242,242 · program services $4,482,882 · management and general $609,764 · fundraising $149,596

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $466,339 · program services $344,992 · management and general $97,256 · fundraising $24,091

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,258,119 · program services $1,074,932 · management and general $166,121 · fundraising $17,066

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $1,211,697 · program services $1,144,516 · management and general $29,670 · fundraising $37,511

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,085,488 · program services $887,520 · management and general $173,669 · fundraising $24,299

  • 17 · Travel

    total $4,899,270 · program services $4,342,477 · management and general $541,682 · fundraising $15,111

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $900,139 · program services $719,169 · management and general $180,462 · fundraising $508

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $117,300 · program services $6,317 · management and general $110,983

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $278,051 · program services $202,116 · management and general $63,705 · fundraising $12,230

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM SUPPLIES

    total $1,645,253 · program services $1,645,253

  • 24b · Other expenses: MOTOR VEHICLE EXPENSE

    total $309,238 · program services $309,238

  • 24c · Other expenses: DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $253,102 · program services $187,242 · management and general $52,785 · fundraising $13,075

  • 24d · Other expenses: TAXES, LICENSES & FEES

    total $189,752 · program services $140,376 · management and general $39,573 · fundraising $9,803

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $166,178 · program services $157,662 · management and general $6,825 · fundraising $1,691

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $14,456,771 · end of year $10,115,642

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $5,409,139 · end of year $9,479,259

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $4,687,552 · end of year $588,589

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $11,827,345 · end of year $9,733,696

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $254,511 · end of year $315,623

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $996,095 · end of year $1,183,218

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $657,564

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $402,770

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $373,920 · end of year $254,794

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $825,950 · end of year $397,195

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $4,562,090 · end of year $3,572,401

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $22,056,105 · end of year $18,052,434

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $354,390 · end of year $182,005

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,981,146 · end of year $6,696,482

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,877,552 · end of year $3,564,694

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

INNOVATIONS FOR POVERTY ACTION DISCOVERS AND PROMOTES EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL POVERTY.

  • EDUCATION: IPA PARTNERED WITH THE LEGO FOUNDATION AND MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION IN FIVE COUNTRIES TO ESTABLISH EMBEDDED EVIDENCE LABS AIMED AT IMPROVING EARLY LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE THE USE OF DATA AND EVIDENCE FOR EDUCATION POLICY BY EMBEDDING TEAMS WITHIN THE MINISTRIES. THIS APPROACH FOSTERS A HORIZONTAL LEARNING PROCESS, ENABLING BOTH PARTIES TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY BUILDING CAPACITY IN DATA AND EVIDENCE UTILIZATION.IN RWANDA, IPA AND THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY INITIATIVE ON INNOVATION, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION (GUI2 DE) HAVE ESTABLISHED AN EMBEDDED EVIDENCE LAB TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN SCALING A SUCCESSFUL PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE CONTRACT SCHEME. THE LAB'S CURRENT FOCUS IS ON SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA'S NEW COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR AN EFFECTIVE SCALE-UP OF THE CONTRACT INITIATIVE. ITS BROADER VISION IS TO SERVE AS A CENTRAL HUB PROVIDING SERVICES RELATED TO DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL THEMES, ENGAGING WITH ACADEMICS, STRENGTHENING POLICY-ANALYTIC CAPABILITIES, AND FOSTERING ITERATIVE FEEDBACK LOOPS FOR POLICY DESIGN, EVALUATION, AND ADAPTATION. ULTIMATELY, THE EMBEDDED EVIDENCE LAB AIMS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-MAKING AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES LEAD TO IMPROVED LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS, MAKING A LASTING IMPACT ON EDUCATION POLICY.

    Expenses $13,045,825 · Grants $3,610,664 · Revenue $1,505,221

  • THE FINANCIAL INCLUSION PROGRAM SEEKS TO INFORM PROGRAMS THAT CAN ENSURE LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND SAFE SERVICES TO MANAGE THEIR FINANCIAL RESOURCES. IN 2022, IPA LAUNCHED AN EMBEDDED LAB AT THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA TO STRENGTHEN THE USE OF DATA AND EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO ENHANCE CONSUMER PROTECTION POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. IT ESTABLISHED THE FINANCIAL INCLUSION PROGRAM SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR GROUP AND THE INTEROPERABLE PAYMENT SYSTEMS GROUP AND CONVENED THE ANNUAL RESEARCHER GATHERING. IT COMPLETED A PROJECT IN INDONESIA AND LESOTHO ON WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS' ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDED WORKING DIRECTLY WITH FINANCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ON PROTOTYPING NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES BASED ON RIGOROUS EVIDENCE. IN ADDITION, IPA PUBLISHED FIVE FINANCIAL INCLUSION BRIEFS AND DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED NEW PROJECTS IN BANGLADESH, THE PHILIPPINES, AND TANZANIA.

    Expenses $5,940,239

  • ONE NOTABLE RCT CONDUCTED BY IPA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RESEARCHERS MICHAEL KREMER AND EDWARD MIGUEL IN KENYA EXAMINED THE IMPACT OF A FREE DEWORMING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AT SCHOOLS. THE RESULTS WERE REMARKABLE. THE PROGRAM REDUCED SERIOUS WORM INFECTIONS BY 61 PERCENT AND EVEN HAD POSITIVE EFFECTS ON UNTREATED CHILDREN IN NEARBY AREAS (KNOWN AS SPILLOVER EFFECTS). THESE HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS TRANSLATED INTO SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS, INCLUDING A 25 PERCENT REDUCTION IN SCHOOL ABSENTEEISM AND INCREASED ATTENDANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL, PARTICULARLY FOR GIRLS.

    Expenses $5,546,491

  • PEACE & RECOVERY: IPA'S WORK ON PEACE AND RECOVERY AIMS TO BUILD RIGOROUS EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVE WAYS TO INCREASE PEACE AND STABILITY IN CONFLICT AND CRISIS-AFFECTED CONTEXTS. IN 2022, IPA SUPPORTED NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS IN THIS SECTOR THROUGH A COMPETITIVE RESEARCH FUND, INCLUDING WORK ON PEACEBUILDING IN NIGERIA, MILITARIZED POLICING IN BRAZIL, AND INTEGRATION OF VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS IN COLOMBIA. IPA ALSO LAUNCHED THE DISPLACED LIVELIHOODS INITIATIVE, A DEDICATED RESEARCH FUND TO GENERATE EVIDENCE ON LIVELIHOODS PROGRAMS FOR DISPLACED POPULATIONS.

    Expenses $4,739,254

  • SOCIAL PROTECTION: THE SOCIAL PROTECTION SECTOR PROGRAM AIMS TO SUPPORT COUNTRIES TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT THE MOST EFFECTIVE POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAM THAT THEY CAN AFFORD, GIVEN THEIR FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXTS. IPA HAS A GROWING BODY OF RESEARCH ON IDENTIFYING AND SCALING EFFECTIVE SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CASH TRANSFERS, GRADUATION PROGRAMS, AND JOB TRAINING. IN 2022, IPA CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS WORK WITH THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) AND BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (BHA) WITH NEW RESEARCH TARGETING RESILIENCE AND FOOD SECURITY FOR VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN MOZAMBIQUE AND CONTINUES TO ADVANCE SIMILAR STUDIES IN UGANDA, ZIMBABWE AND MALAWI. THE SECTOR ALSO BEGAN A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOMA PROJECT IN KENYA, INVESTIGATING ADAPTATIONS TO GRADUATION PROGRAMS SITTING AT THE NEXUS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL PROTECTION WITH SUPPORT FROM THE IKEA FOUNDATION.

    Expenses $5,546,491

  • INNOVATIONS FOR POVERTY ACTION (IPA) IS A GLOBAL RESEARCH AND POLICY NONPROFIT THAT DISCOVERS AND ADVANCES WHAT WORKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY. LIMITED EVIDENCE EXISTS ON WHAT WORKS TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY, AND THE EVIDENCE THAT DOES EXIST OFTEN GOES UNUSED. THIS LEADS TO PROGRAMS THAT ARE EITHER INEFFECTIVE OR NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THEY COULD BE, AND OFTEN TO WASTED MONEY AND ENDURING POVERTY. IPA EXISTS TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. IPA TESTS PROMISING IDEAS ACROSS CONTEXTS AND ALONG THE PATH TO SCALE, PROACTIVELY ENGAGES KEY DECISION-MAKERS THROUGHOUT THE RESEARCH PROCESS, SHARES FINDINGS WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND EQUIPS PARTNERS WITH THE SKILLS AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO USE DATA AND EVIDENCE.SINCE IPA'S FOUNDING IN 2002, THE ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED WITH OVER 600 LEADING ACADEMICS TO CONDUCT OVER 900 EVALUATIONS IN 52 COUNTRIES. THIS RESEARCH HAS INFORMED HUNDREDS OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS THAT NOW IMPACT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF LIVES WORLDWIDE.

    Expenses $7,122,349

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Agnieszka Zieminska Yank

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Ankur Vora

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Benjamin Appen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Cina Lawson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Colin Teichholtz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • David Wells

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Heather Woodruff Grizzle

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Jane Mariara

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Janet Zhou

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Jyotsna Puri

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Karen Levy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Kentaro Toyama

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Laura Hattendorf

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Mushfiq Mobarak

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Rakesh Rajani

    DIRECTOR (OUTGOING)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Russell Siegelman

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Trey Beck

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Vineet Bewtra

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Wendy Abt

    DIRECTOR (OUTGOING)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Annie Duflo

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $316,313
    From this org
    $265,999
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,314
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $265,549
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $450
    Deferred
    $8,359
    Nontaxable benefits
    $41,955
    Filer's total
    $316,313
  • Eric Fullilove

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $298,736
    From this org
    $274,768
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,968
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $270,959
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $3,809
    Deferred
    $8,216
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,752
    Filer's total
    $298,736
  • Meseret Ansebo

    CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER (OUTGOING)

    Total calculated
    $170,798
    From this org
    $145,030
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,768
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $122,189
    Bonus
    $22,438
    Other
    $403
    Deferred
    $4,463
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,305
    Filer's total
    $170,798
  • Stacey Daves-Ohlin

    GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $283,060
    From this org
    $224,486
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $58,574
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $222,506
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,980
    Deferred
    $7,050
    Nontaxable benefits
    $51,524
    Filer's total
    $283,060
  • David Andrew Berry

    SENIOR DIRECTOR (OUTGOING)

    Total calculated
    $181,733
    From this org
    $172,372
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,361
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $119,812
    Bonus
    $51,270
    Other
    $1,290
    Deferred
    $1,304
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,057
    Filer's total
    $181,733
  • Faran Nadir

    SENIOR DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $198,460
    From this org
    $149,805
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,655
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,544
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $261
    Deferred
    $1,576
    Nontaxable benefits
    $47,079
    Filer's total
    $198,460
  • Pace Phillips

    DIR. BUSINESS & PROG DEVEL

    Total calculated
    $207,039
    From this org
    $152,710
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,329
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,260
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $450
    Deferred
    $4,880
    Nontaxable benefits
    $49,449
    Filer's total
    $207,039
  • Sarah De Tournemire

    CHIEF PARTNER. & PHILANTHROPY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $300,153
    From this org
    $244,978
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $55,175
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $244,288
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $690
    Deferred
    $5,215
    Nontaxable benefits
    $49,960
    Filer's total
    $300,153
  • Steven Glazerman

    CHIEF RSRCH & METHODOLOGY

    Total calculated
    $285,329
    From this org
    $229,742
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $55,587
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $228,452
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,290
    Deferred
    $7,136
    Nontaxable benefits
    $48,451
    Filer's total
    $285,329

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 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 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
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
IPA DOES NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL BONUS POLICY. BONUSES ARE PROCESSED AS EXCEPTIONS.

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

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
8 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202403179349307255

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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