Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Measurement. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Majority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members
10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 5 independent members
10 out of 10 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Material Diversion of Assets - None
10 out of 10 points
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 — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Tax Form Disclosures and Policies
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Website Listed on Tax Form - Missing
0 out of 3 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed
7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed
7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed
7 out of 7 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes
3 out of 3 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website Disclosures
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Form 990 indicates tax form is available on nonprofit's website - No
0 out of 3 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Financial Metrics
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Liabilities to Assets Ratio: 1.10%
15 out of 15 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio: 59.55%
12 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
Additional Information
Total Revenue and Expenses - Data Available
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Click or hover over the bar to see exact $ amount
Salary of Key Persons - Data Available
The compensation data below shows the five highest paid individuals at this charity. The amount includes salary, cash bonuses, and compensation from related organizations. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2.
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
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) - Data Available
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage accountability and finance data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Material Innovation Initiative) or EIN (843847333) in the 'Search Term' field.
Impact & Measurement
In partnership with
Score
100
This beacon estimates the actual impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
Material Innovation Initiative (MII) works to reduce farmed animal suffering by increasing the availability of animal-free products and strengthening the animal advocacy movement. They produce research on animal-free alternatives to existing materials used in the fashion, automotive, and home goods industries.
Program Context
Data not available
Data Time Period
Data not available
Benchmark for Scoring
Data not available
Methodology
Data not available
Data Source
This impact score is based on assessments by Animal Charity Evaluators. For more information visit https://animalcharityevaluators.org/donation-advice/recommended-charities
Measurement
Unscored
0% of Impact & Measurement score
Culture & Community
Score
100
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
This assessment, developed by the Irritants for Change, evaluates how a charity listens to and uses feedback from the people meant to ultimately benefit from its mission. Seeking feedback from the people a charity serves makes the nonprofit more responsive and effective.
Collects Feedback
25 out of 25 points
Does your organization collect feedback (i.e., perceptions, opinions, concerns) from the people meant to ultimately benefit from your mission?
Yes
Uses Feedback
25 out of 25 points
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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 strengthen relationships with the people we serve
To understand client needs and how we can help them achieve their desired outcomes
Implements Quality Feedback Practices
25 out of 25 points
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible
We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us
We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response
We act on the feedback we receive
Experiences Feedback Challenges
25 out of 25 points
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
It is difficult to get people to respond to requests for feedback
Leadership & Adaptability
Score
100
This beacon 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.
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission.
The Material Innovation Institute (dba Material Innovation Initiative) accelerates the development of environmentally preferable, humane next-gen materials for the fashion, automotive, and home goods industries. We envision a world where the materials we interact with every day—from our clothes to our car seats—are produced in ways that allow animals, the planet, and future generations to thrive.
Vision Statement
10 out of 10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's vision.
At MII, we envision a world where the materials we interact with everyday, from our shoes to our car
Strategic Goals
20 out of 20 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Fashion, automotive, and home goods companies decrease the use of unsustainable and animal-based materials by 75% by 2040.
Goal Two: High quality next-gen materials exist in sufficient supply to allow fashion, automotive, and home goods companies to decrease the use of unsustainable and animal-based materials by 75% by 2040.
Goal Three: Awareness of next-gen materials is mainstream with over 50% of consumers, brands, scientists, and investors aware of the benefits of next-gen materials by 2040.
Leadership
30 out of 30 points
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Investment in Leadership Development
15 out of 15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development.
We offered optional individual leadership training through Life Labs Learning to all staff. Staff took classes in setting goals, giving feedback, inclusive leadership, effective 1 on 1s, and delivery skills. Staff have bought books on leadership which are reimbursed by the nonprofit. We also offered diversity training to all organizational leaders. Our budget includes funds for each employee to choose their own leadership trainings. Our staff also gives presentations to the rest of the team in their areas of expertise. For example, our Environmental Data Scientist ran a training session on how we conduct environmental impact assessments and how that affects our work. Our Chief Scientific Officer presented on how we categorize different technologies and how those technologies are used to make material.
External Focus on Mobilizing Mission
15 out of 15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Collaborative Engagement
Thought Leadership
Social Promotion
Public Policy Advocacy
Adaptability
30 out of 30 points
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Adaptability Practices
30 out of 30 points
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year
Our mission is to support the development and adoption of next-gen materials which are animal free and more sustainable. We analyzed the market and determined that (1) the fashion industry cares more about environmental impact than animal cruelty and (2) animal-based materials are worse for the environment. We then analyzed the current available environmental impact data and discovered that there was not enough and there were various issues with existing data. We surveyed stakeholders to determine whether the lack of data and issues with the data was deterring their adoption of the new materials. We also conducted an analysis of the public discourse around these new materials to determine any incorrect perceptions. We decided that we should hire an Environmental Data Scientist to collect and analyze additional data and create a coalition with key industry stakeholders to provide the industry guidelines on how to conduct additional environmental impact assessments. We then applied for grants for this position and hired an experienced scientist to run the program.