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WITNESS INC

EIN 13-4167155 NEW YORK, NY

Revenue 2024
$4,640,676
Expenses 2024
$7,324,703

Program services were 69.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
Q70
Classification
1000
Street
228 PARK AVE S 26641

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

WITNESS HELPS PEOPLE USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS. WITNESS IS WORKING TOWARDS A WORLD WHERE THE COMMUNITIES WE CENTER, SERVE, AND SUPPORT CAN SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY TO END HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. A WORLD WHERE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURES ACCOUNT FOR THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, INSTEAD OF EXCLUDING OR HARMING THEM, AND THE CREATIVE POWER OF VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY FOR CATALYZING TRANSFORMATION CAN BE REALIZED.

Activities or mission (Part I)

WITNESS INC. ("WITNESS") IS AN INTERNATIONAL, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS.

  • 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, WITNESS PROVIDES A SERIES OF IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL TRAINING TO COMMUNITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, JOURNALISTS, AND CIVIL SOCIETY AROUND THE WORLD, SHARING RESOURCES, GUIDANCE, AND TOOLS AROUND THE SAFE, ETHICAL, AND EFFECTIVE USE OF VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

    Expenses $4,126,261 · Grants $77,517 · Revenue $12,013

  • 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 $432,181

  • 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.

    Expenses $349,033

  • RESOURCE CREATIONWITNESS 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 $147,159

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • POLLY FIELDS

    CO-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MONICA ALEMAN

    CO-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MICHAEL HIRSCHHORN

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • HELEN ENRIGHT

    TREASURER, BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SABRY MOHIDEEN

    BOARD MEMBER, TREASURER (FROM 6/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PETER GABRIEL

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • INCA MOHAMED

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ADELIN CAI

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KOKETSO MOETI

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LEONARDO CUSTODIO

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PAMILLA MUDHRAY

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JULIE OWONO

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DEBORA DINIZ

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SAMUEL GREGORY

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $271,282
    From this org
    $234,333
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,949
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $234,333
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,141
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,808
    Filer's total
    $271,282

  • SONALI THIMMAYA

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $181,488
    From this org
    $147,479
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,009
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $147,479
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,489
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,520
    Filer's total
    $181,488

  • KALIM PATWA

    DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & SYSTEMS

    Total calculated
    $187,693
    From this org
    $157,199
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,494
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $157,199
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,511
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,983
    Filer's total
    $187,693

  • SARA FEDERLEIN

    DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY

    Total calculated
    $179,817
    From this org
    $147,425
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,392
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $147,425
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,486
    Nontaxable benefits
    $27,906
    Filer's total
    $179,817

  • JACQUELIN ZAMMUTO

    ASSO. DIRECTOR - LEARNING & SHARING (THROUGH 1/3/2

    Total calculated
    $151,342
    From this org
    $119,800
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,542
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $119,800
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,657
    Nontaxable benefits
    $27,885
    Filer's total
    $151,342

  • ADEBAYO OKEOWO

    ASSO. DIR OF PROGRAMS - REGIONAL & PARTNER ENGAGEM

    Total calculated
    $140,654
    From this org
    $115,648
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,006
    Hours/week
    40

  • SHANTHA BARRIGA

    DEPUTY EXEC DIRECTOR (THROUGH 4/9/25)

    Total calculated
    $139,975
    From this org
    $135,900
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,075
    Hours/week
    40

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $4,640,676
    Expenses
    $7,324,703
    Contributions
    $3,919,197
    Grants paid
    $77,517
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $7,738,411
    Expenses
    $7,529,581
    Contributions
    $7,302,135
    Grants paid
    $64,886
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $8,715,928
    Expenses
    $6,418,816
    Contributions
    $8,612,823
    Grants paid
    $66,015

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,505,968
    Expenses
    $4,654,213
    Assets (EOY)
    $12,318,415

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $5,360,477
    Expenses
    $4,060,247
    Assets (EOY)
    $11,602,278

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,420,686
    Expenses
    $4,060,770
    Assets (EOY)
    $9,711,613

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $7,329,286
    Expenses
    $4,010,509
    Assets (EOY)
    $6,855,938

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,005,870
    Expenses
    $3,444,201
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,513,350

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,005,870
    Expenses
    $3,444,201
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,513,350

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,234,415
    Expenses
    $3,440,023
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,744,362

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,860,743
    Expenses
    $3,591,314
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,930,058

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,178,447
    Expenses
    $3,761,825
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,630,587

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

  • MEEDAN INC

    $15,000

    2023 TO SUPPORT THE CRISIS RESPONSE FOR THE GAZA WAR, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EQUIPMENT AND INTERNET/COMMS BUNDLES.

  • BERKELEY COPWATCH

    $7,500

    2024 CAPACITY BUILDING AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

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

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 29 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.