National Center for Transgender Equality
Advocacy and Education | EIN: 41-2090291 | Washington DC
Mission: The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender peopl ... (More)
National Center for Transgender Equality is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 2004, and donations are tax-deductible.
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Contact Information
1032 15th Street NW
Suite 199
Washington DC 20005
You are viewing this organization's new Charity Navigator profile page. To view the legacy version, click here.
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.
Exceptional
This charity's score is 91.83, earning it a 4-Star rating. Donors can "Give with Confidence" to this charity.
This score is calculated from two sub-scores:
Finance: 90.82 View details
Accountability & Transparency: 93.00 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
70.4%
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
21.1%
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
8.3%
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
3.3%
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
$0.05
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
1.79 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
10.55%
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:
| |
| 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.
| Partial |
| 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 Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Mara Keisling, Executive Director
$165,108 (6.66% of Total Expenses)
Plus $8,842 of Compensation from Affliates
Current CEO and Board Chair can be found in the Leadership & Adaptability report below.
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2019
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:
Activity data not reported from the IRS
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.
National Center for Transgender Equality reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Administrative Capacity
Balance Sheet
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
We lost a negligible amount of revenue, primarily from recurring donors who reduced or cancelled their monthly gifts due to income loss, and due to COVID we cancelled all in-person fundraising events, but overall we saw a 21% increase in online giving CY19 to CY20, and in CY21 are 15% ahead of last year to date. Revenue through workplace giving and peer-to-peer fundraising via Facebook has remained steady. We did not require nor did we seek any PPP loans, and our financial picture remains solid.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
We cancelled our annual gala fundraiser, the Trans Equality Now awards, in 2020 as well as any in-person smaller fundraising events. In 2021, we held the Trans Equality Now awards virtually, and we are planning a hybrid live/online event in 2022. Our smaller scale fundraising events are still on hold. We also initiated a series of town hall style webinars, which have been very successful ways to engage with our supporters.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
We transitioned to 100% remote work starting mid-March 2020, with staff and department meetings held virtually or over the phone. The only staff person we laid off was our receptionist, a temp position that was set to end shortly afterwards, and we gave them commensurate severance pay. During the pandemic our office lease expired, enabling us to downsize and relocate to a much smaller and cheaper space used primarily for mail processing and equipment storage in the short term as we plan for a potential return to a hybrid of remote and in-office work in the future. We more than doubled our staff during the pandemic, and because we are remote, we were able to hire new staff from all across the country without obligating them to relocate to the DC area, though some did and plan to do.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
We expect to eventually embrace a hybrid of remote and in-office work, though what that looks like is yet to be determined. Some positions may remain remote if that is determined to be in the best interest of all parties. Our future office location, size, and layout is yet to be determined. We intend to continue our webinar series, and hope to eventually resume smaller fundraising events in cities across the country.
Historical Ratings
| Date Published | Form 990 FYE | Overall Score | Overall Rating |
| Rating Version: 2.1 | |||
| 7/1/2021 | 2019 | 91.83 | |
| 7/1/2020 | 2018 | 93.52 | |
| 5/1/2020 | 2018 | 83.20 |  |
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. | |||
| 6/1/2019 | 2017 | 67.26 |  |
| 6/1/2018 | 2016 | 83.37 | |
| 6/1/2017 | 2015 | 77.37 |  |
| 4/1/2017 | 2014 | 72.02 | |
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
National Center for Transgender Equality 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 National Center for Transgender Equality? Join the waitlist for an updated Impact & Results score.
Additional Information
Unscored
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Largest Programs
National Center for Transgender Equality reported its three largest programs on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
$1,199,232
Spent in most recent FY
70%
Percent of program expenses
GENERAL PROGRAM, OUTREACH, AND POLICY: NCTE'S POLICY AND PROGRAMMATIC WORK IMPROVES THE LIVES OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES BY WORKING TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF TRA ... (More)
$295,928
Spent in most recent FY
17%
Percent of program expenses
PUBLIC EDUCATION/FAMILIARIZATION AND FAMILY: NCTE EMPOWERS TRANS PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SHARE THEIR STORIES TO THE MEDIA, POLICY-MAKERS, AND THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILD UNDE ... (More)
$84,345
Spent in most recent FY
4%
Percent of program expenses
STATE AGENCY PROJECT: NCTE WORKS TO CHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES REGARDING IDENTIY DOCUMENTS, FAIR TREATMENT, AND HEALTH CARE AT THE STATE LEVEL. THESE CHANGES REDUCE DISCRIMINATION BY STATE GOVERNM ... (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 National Center for Transgender Equality is a passing score. This score has no effect on the organization's Star Rating.
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
The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Vision
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
NCTE envisions a society in which transgender people not only survive, but thrive, with accepting families and communities, full self-determination over their identities and bodies, and freedom from disrespect, discrimination and violence. For this vision to become a reality, we must also create equity, equal opportunity, safety, health, and economic well-being for all people over their entire lifetimes.
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: The 2022 US Trans Survey will be NCTE's third edition of a nationwide gathering of data on transgender lives which will shape our advocacy, policy and legal work nationwide.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Goal Two: NCTE created the Trans Legal Services Network to ensure that every transgender person has access to assistance navigating the name and gender change process and any other legal issues they may face.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Three: Combating racism and poverty and uplifting the voices of marginalized transgender people across the US is key to the work of NCTE.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Leadership Development
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
All staff take online sessions with The Management Center, are encouraged to take Blackbaud classes to gain certification in the platforms they use, and encouraged to pursue individual career seminars and classes.
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?
NCTE frequently partners with corporate and nonprofit organizations. With a grant from Uber, we are funding numerous applicants' identity change processes. We mobilize state-level action with targeted text message outreach urging our supporters to contact their elected officials regarding legislation impacting the trans community. NCTE staff frequently lead training seminars at various corporations about trans issues in the workplace. NCTE's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds are very active with news, updates, action alerts, and fundraising campaigns. NCTE is preparing to launch the 2022 US Trans Survey, the third iteration of a massive data collecting effort to collect stories and data about trans lives and experiences, which helps to shape future policy, legal and advocacy work nationwide.
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 pandemic obligated NCTE to go fully remote, which we have been for over 18 months. This allowed us to move to a smaller, temporary office space for mail processing and storage, as well as retain and eventually double our staff. We are envisioning a hybrid of remote and in-person work at an undetermined point in the future. We resumed our annual gala fundraiser, the Trans Equality Now Awards, as a virtual event in March 2021, and are planning a hybrid live/virtual event in 2022. We started a very successful webinar series which allowed us to interface with our supporters and donors. Our smaller fundraising events in cities across the country remain on hold.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Additional Information
Unscored
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Organization Leadership
Mara Keisling
Executive Director
Rachel See
President
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
National Center for Transgender Equality 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
Constituent Feedback and Listening Practice data are not available for this organization. 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.
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 award every nonprofit that completes the Candid survey full credit for this Beacon, in recognition of their willingness to publicly share this information with the nonprofit and philanthropic communities. Although the data is not evaluated for quality at this time, future iterations of this Beacon will include third party or other data that will serve to validate the information provided by the nonprofit.
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.
