Plan International USA
Development and Relief Services | EIN: 13-5661832 | Warwick RI
Mission: Plan International USA, part of the Plan International Federation, is a child-centered development organization that believes in the promise and potential of children. For more than 75 years in over 50 developing countries, Plan has been breaking the cycle of child poverty. Everything Plan does - from strengthening health care systems to improving the quality of education, to advocating for increased protection and beyond - is built with, and owned by, the community. The result is a development approach designed to improve the lives of the youngest members of the community for the longest period of time.
Plan International USA is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 1940, and donations are tax-deductible.
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Star Rating System by Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator evaluates a nonprofit organization’s financial health including measures of stability, efficiency and sustainability. We also track accountability and transparency policies to ensure the good governance and integrity of the organization.
Good
This charity's score is 83.76, earning it a 3-Star rating. Donors can "Give with Confidence" to this charity.
This score is calculated from two sub-scores:
Finance: 77.04 View details
Accountability & Transparency: 100.00 View details
This score represents Form 990 data from 2019, the latest year published by the IRS.
View this organization’s historical ratings.
Star Rated Report
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Program Expense Ratio
75.9%
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s).
This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver. Dividing a charity's average program expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Administrative Expenses
15.9%
As reported by charities on their IRS Form 990, this measure reflects what percent of its total budget a charity spends on overhead, administrative staff and associated costs, and organizational meetings. Dividing a charity's average administrative expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Fundraising Expenses
8.0%
This measure reflects what a charity spends to raise money. Fundraising expenses can include campaign printing, publicity, mailing, and staffing and costs incurred in soliciting donations, memberships, and grants. Dividing a charity's average fundraising expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Liabilities to Assets Ratio
18.5%
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990).
Part of our goal in rating the financial performance of charities is to help donors assess the financial capacity and sustainability of a charity. As do organizations in other sectors, charities must be mindful of their management of total liabilites in relation to their total assets. This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and or long term sustainability. Dividing a charity's total liabilities by its total assets yields this percentage.
Source: IRS Form 990
Fundraising Efficiency
$0.07
The amount spent to raise $1 in charitable contributions. To calculate a charity's fundraising efficiency, we divide its average fundraising expenses by the average total contributions it receives. We calculate the charity's average expenses and average contributions over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Working Capital Ratio
0.45 years
Determines how long a charity could sustain its level of spending using its net available assets, or working capital, as reported on its most recently filed Form 990. We include in a charity's working capital unrestricted and temporarily restricted net assets, and exclude permanently restricted net assets. Dividing these net available assets in the most recent year by a charity's average total expenses, yields the working capital ratio. We calculate the charity's average total expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Growth
2.14%
We compute the average annual growth of program expenses using the following formula: [(Yn/Y0)(1/n)]-1, where Y0 is a charity's program expenses in the first year of the interval analyzed, Yn is the charity's program expenses in the most recent year, and n is the interval of years passed between Y0 and Yn.
Source: IRS Form 990
Governance
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has these governance practices in place.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990
| Governance: | |
|---|---|
| Independent Voting Board Members ... (More) | |
| No Material Diversion of Assets ... (More) A diversion of assets – any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft – can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We check the charity's last two Forms 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets. If the charity does report a diversion, then we check to see if it complied with the Form 990 instructions by describing what happened and its corrective action. This metric will be assigned to one of the following categories:
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| Audited Financials Prepared by Independent Accountant ... (More) Audited financial statements provide important information about financial accountability and accuracy. They should be prepared by an independent accountant with oversight from an audit committee. (It is not necessary that the audit committee be a separate committee. Often at smaller charities, it falls within the responsibilities of the finance committee or the executive committee.) The committee provides an important oversight layer between the management of the organization, which is responsible for the financial information reported, and the independent accountant, who reviews the financials and issues an opinion based on its findings. We check the charity's Form 990 reporting to see if it meets this criteria.
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| Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From Related Parties ... (More) | |
| Documents Board Meeting Minutes ... (More) | |
| Distributes 990 to Board Before Filing ... (More) | |
| Compensates Board ... (More) |
Policies
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization has these policies in place.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990 and organization's website
| Policies: | |
|---|---|
| Conflict of Interest ... (More) | |
| Whistleblower ... (More) | |
| Records Retention and Destruction ... (More) | |
| CEO Compensation Process ... (More) | |
| Donor Privacy ... (More) Donors have expressed extreme concern about the use of their personal information by charities and the desire to have this information kept confidential. The exchanging and sale of lists for telemarketing and the mass distribution of "junk mail," among other things, can be minimized if the charity assures the privacy of its donors. Privacy policies are assigned to one of the following categories:
The privacy policy must be specific to donor information. A general website policy which references "visitor" or "user" personal information will not suffice. A policy that refers to donor information collected on the website is also not sufficient as the policy must be comprehensive and applicable to both online and offline donors. The existence of a privacy policy of any type does not prohibit the charity itself from contacting the donor for informational, educational, or solicitation purposes. (Less) |
Transparency
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization makes this information easily accessible.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990 and organization's website
| Transparency: | |
|---|---|
| CEO Salary Listed on 990 ... (More) | |
| Board of Directors Listed on Website ... (More) | |
| Key Staff Listed on Website ... (More) | |
| Audited Financial Statements on Website ... (More) | |
| Form 990 Available on Website ... (More) |
Additional Information
Unscored
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Total Revenue and Expenses
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Salary of Key Persons
Presented here are this organizations key compensated staff members as identified by our analysts. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Ana Teresa Gutierrez-San Martin, President, CEO
$347,035 (0.54% of Total Expenses)
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2020
Business Master File Data
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Gifts, grants, or loans to other organizations (BMF activity code: 602)
Foundation Status:
Organization that normally receives no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes. 509(a)(2) (BMF foundation code: 16)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
Data Sources: IRS Forms 990
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to view this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available).
Pandemic Response
Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Plan International USA reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
Staffing
Administrative Capacity
Grants Received
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
COVID-19 impacted Plan International USA’s finances in multiple areas. For instance, traveling to the location of a potential project to develop a proposal was no longer possible and in-person donor stewardship meetings could not happen. For safety reasons, Plan ceased its main child sponsorship acquisition tool, face-to-face street marketing, for several months. In addition, the ability for staff to execute existing projects was interrupted by lockdowns and travel restrictions. This hampered our ability to deliver agreed-upon programs and spend funds at previously anticipated rates thus impacting revenue results. The pandemic provided Plan the opportunity to reconsider traditional ways of doing business and resulted in increased innovation and new methods of engaging with donors.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many countries to experience various forms of lockdowns and for travel to be restricted globally. Many of Plan International USA’s programs rely on in-person delivery of education, training, services and humanitarian aid. Plan was able to continue several projects with the aid of technology, though it took time to adapt and ensure equal and safe access. Plan worked within government regulations to deliver programs to the best of our abilities to those who needed it most.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
Plan USA developed new and innovative ways of carrying out our mission. For example, an in-person training for youth was moved online and resulted in more youth than ever being able to participate. In addition, the restrictions on travel meant that staff in the U.S. helped build skills of colleagues in other countries to execute tasks we would normally travel to achieve. Plan also developed virtual field trips for donors to experience our work first hand. These adaptations are resulting in long-term changes to how we operate as a global organization. The pandemic also allowed Plan to fully test its business continuity plan, providing quick responses to needs of staff and donors while moving to a remote environment. The plan has been updated, as needed, to ensure smooth transitions in the future. The pandemic created a previously unimaginable reality and forced each person at Plan to adapt in small and large ways to accomplish the tasks needed to advance girls rights around the world.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
Times of crisis often results in rapid change that is not possible in other environments. Like many, Plan International USA is reconsidering our policies around where staff work and how our physical offices are used. Moving forward, there will be greater flexibility for remote work. In addition, we plan to continue virtual field trips as a way for donors to experience Plan’s work as an alternative to physical travel. The pandemic has also fast forwarded some of our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion resulting in redefined roles of staff in the U.S. and in the country where a project is being implemented. This progress will continue to evolve and move forward in the coming years.
Historical Ratings
| Date Published | Form 990 FYE | Overall Score | Overall Rating |
| Rating Version: 2.1 | |||
| 12/23/2020 | 2019 | 83.76 | |
| 8/1/2019 | 2018 | 89.49 | |
| 8/1/2018 | 2017 | 82.95 | |
| 10/1/2017 | 2016 | 83.19 | |
| 7/1/2016 | 2015 | 90.20 |  |
| 6/1/2016 | 2014 | 89.76 | |
| Rating Version: 2.0 | |||
| 11/1/2015 | 2014 | 95.07 | |
| 10/1/2015 | 2014 | 94.32 | |
This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to it's Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. | |||
| 6/1/2014 | 2013 | 89.34 | |
| 9/1/2013 | 2012 | 90.53 | |
| 2/1/2013 | 2011 | 94.84 | |
| 5/1/2012 | 2011 | 94.42 | |
| 9/20/2011 | 2010 | 85.89 | |
| Rating Version: 1.0 | |||
| 7/1/2011 | 2010 | 80.27 | |
| 7/1/2010 | 2009 | 82.44 | |
| 4/1/2009 | 2008 | 87.34 | |
| 3/1/2008 | 2007 | 87.99 | |
| 6/1/2007 | 2006 | 76.34 |  |
| 6/1/2006 | 2005 | 71.65 | |
| 5/1/2005 | 2004 | 73.69 | |
| 5/1/2004 | 2003 | 72.11 | |
| 2/5/2003 | 2002 | 83.66 | |
| 10/15/2002 | 2001 | 84.66 | |
Impact & Results
This score estimates the actual impact a nonprofit has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
Impact & Results Score
Not Currently Scored
Plan International USA cannot currently be evaluated by our Encompass Rating Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Do you work at Plan International USA? Join the waitlist for an updated Impact & Results score.
Additional Information
Unscored
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Largest Programs
Plan International USA reported its three largest programs on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
$41,098,172
Spent in most recent FY
93%
Percent of program expenses
Program and Technical Support - Plan International USA carries out the vast majority of its international activities through Plan International, Inc. (also registered in the USA) which implements prog ... (More)
$909,284
Spent in most recent FY
2%
Percent of program expenses
Building Relationships - Our child sponsorship program links a sponsor in the United States with a child in need; they can exchange letters, cards and photos as a way to build relationships. Plan also ... (More)
$1,985,187
Spent in most recent FY
4%
Percent of program expenses
Development Education and Advocacy - Plan conducts educational outreach programs in the United States with youth, educators, sponsors and the public about issues affecting children and families in the ... (More)
Leadership & Adaptability
This score provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Leadership & Adaptability Score
100
out of 100
The score earned by Plan International USA is a passing score.
Encompass Rating V4 provides an evaluation of the organization's Leadership & Adaptability through the nonprofit organization submitting a survey response directly to Charity Navigator.
Leadership & Adaptability Report
100
of 100 points
Mission
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s mission
Powered by supporters, Plan International USA partners with adolescent girls, young women and children around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality. We provide the support and resources that are unique to their needs and the needs of their communities, ensuring they achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety. Founded in 1937, Plan is an independent development and humanitarian organization that is active in more than 80 countries.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Vision
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
Transform the lives of 10 million girls so they can learn, lead, decide and thrive.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Strategic Goals
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Design, test and implement GirlEngage as a programming approach.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Goal Two: Influence U.S. policy makers, and mobilize young people and donors in support of girls’ rights and gender equality.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Three: Focus our efforts on four key development and humanitarian assistance programming areas.
Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Leadership Development
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
One of the areas where Plan has invested in leadership development is our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council. The Council brings together diverse staff representatives from across the organization to, among other things, be champions for DEI and advance DEI in their teams and across the organization; develop activities to forward DEI at Plan; make recommendations to Plan’s executive team for changes in organizational policies and procedures to enhance DEI; identify areas in need of financial investment and recommend DEI budget priorities; and meet with the CEO quarterly to report progress and discuss issues relevant to DEI. A key area identified for financial investment is funding for staff training in gender equity, social inclusion, human-center design and related topics. In FY20, seven staff members received funding. We have seen members of the Council grow in their leadership skills and take on new roles and responsibilities as a result of their work on the Council.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Mobilizing for Mission
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Policy Advocacy
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
Plan International USA believes we are stronger when we work together. To do this, we partner with corporations, foundations and the U.S. government to maximize the impact of our work and finances. We work with organizations like the Gates Foundation, Kimberly-Clark and Viacom to advance gender equality, and as well as multiple government agencies. Plan is an active member of InterAction, the Society of International Development and the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network, working with peer organizations for to advance international development and meet 21st century challenges. Plan contributes to the body of evidence around the importance of gender equality through our annual State of the World’s Girls report and other topical research; actively participates in panels at sector conferences and events; and hosts an annual leadership academy for young people in the U.S. Plan uses social media, email and other forms of digital marketing to reach and expand our supporters.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Story of Adaptability
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many countries to experience various forms of lockdowns and for travel to be restricted globally, heavily impacting the way Plan International USA typically implements programs. In the face of these challenges, Plan used the pandemic to develop new and innovative ways of carrying out our mission. For example, an in-person training for young people was moved to a virtual space and resulted in more youth than ever being able to participate. In addition, the restrictions on travel meant that staff in the U.S. helped to build the skills of colleagues in other countries to execute tasks we would normally travel to achieve. Plan also developed virtual field trips for donors to experience our work first hand. These adaptations are resulting in long-term changes to how Plan operates as a global organization. The pandemic also allowed Plan to fully test its business continuity plan, providing quick responses to the needs of staff and donors while moving to a remote environment. The plan has been updated, where needed, to ensure smooth transitions in the future. The pandemic fast forwarded some of our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion resulting in redefined roles of staff in the U.S. and in the country where a project is being implemented. This progress will continue to evolve and move forward in the coming years. COVID-19 created a previously unimaginable reality and forced each person at Plan to adapt in small and large ways to accomplish the everyday tasks needed to advance girls’ rights around the world.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Culture & Community
This score provides an assessment of the organization's engagement with the constituents it serves, a practice we term Constituent Feedback. When organizations listen to constituents, they are able to better deliver on programs and meet the needs of stakeholders. A future version of this Beacon will also assess an organization's people operations and its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) metrics.
Culture & Community Score
Not Currently Scored
Plan International USA is currently not eligible for a Culture & Community score because we have not received its Constituent Feedback data. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to fill out the How We Listen section of their Candid profile. This data will provide the basis for the initial evaluation of Culture & Community.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Culture & Community Report
Unscored
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Constituent Feedback
Not Scored
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback.
Here's how this organization is listening and learning from the people they serve:
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Paper surveys, Case management notes, Community meetings or town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, Other means
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners, Other means
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
In a recent example from El Salvador, COVID-19 adaptations to school- and community-based life skills activities with adolescents involved extensive use of online and digital formats. Plan complemented those adaptations with printed materials when it became clear from communication with project participants that many young people did not have reliable access either to internet or to a device to enable regular online/digital participation. By designing, printing and disseminating complementary written and illustrated materials for self-study by the group participants, more young people were able to continue their involvement in the activities.
Methodology
Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective. We've partnered with GuideStar by Candid to survey organizations about their feedback practices. Nonprofit organizations can fill out the How We Listen section of their Candid profile to receive a rating.
Charity Navigator awards full credit for this Beacon to every nonprofit that is eligible for an Encompass Rating that completes the survey, in recognition of their willingness to publicly share this information with the nonprofit and philanthropic communities. This data is not evaluated for quality at this time. Validation will be added in future iterations of this Beacon.
Analysis and Research
Like the overall Encompass Rating System, the Culture & Community Beacon is designed to evolve as metrics are developed and ready for integration. Our partnership with Feedback Labs and Guidestar by Candid, and other partners including Fund for Shared Insight, GlobalGiving, and Keystone Accountability, enables us to launch the first version of this beacon with Constituent Feedback information collected on Candid's site.
Feedback practices have been shown to support better Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion outcomes, an essential area of assessment that we intend to further expand and develop in the future. Feedback Labs has documented several studies which indicate that beyond achieving organizational goals, nonprofits that are attentive and responsive to concerns and ideas raised by beneficiaries establish stronger relationships with the people they serve, promote greater equity, and empower constituents in ways that can help to ensure better long-term outcomes. You can find resources to help nonprofits improve their feedback practices here.
