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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: October 2025 Expires: October 2027

Global Fund for Children

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
4 18
(202) 331-9003
1411 K Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC, 20005
https://globalfundforchildren.org
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Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Global Fund for Children does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 4 (Compensated Board Members)
Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

GFC does not meet this Standard because:

  • Two members out of the 17 member board of directors (12%) are directly compensated.

In response to this finding, GFC stated:

"Global Fund for Children respectfully notes that our current board structure reflects a modern shared leadership model with Co-CEOs, John Hecklinger and Hayley Roffey, both serving as voting members of the Board. Having two compensated employees, our Co-CEOs serving as voting members of the Board, we believe strengthens governance by ensuring leadership equity, accountability, and consistent representation of our management level at the highest level of organizational decision making. With 17 voting directors, this represents 11.8%, which is slightly above the 10% threshold in Standard 4.

This proportion is a temporary condition during a period of board transition, as several directors concluded their service early. The Board of Directors is actively onboarding and recruiting new members, and we expect to have a full complement of at least 20 directors by early 2026. At that size, the two compensated voting members will represent less than 10% bringing GFC into full compliance with Standard 4."

Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

GFC does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://globalfundforchildren.org, does not indicate:

  • What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.

Global Fund for Children meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to advance the rights and opportunities of children and youth worldwide."

Year, State Incorporated:
1993, NC

Global Fund for Children (GFC) identifies and invests in grassroots organizations that empower young people facing poverty and injustice to reach their full potential. The organization focuses on six core areas: education, gender justice, youth power, climate resilience, safety and well-being, and solidarity in emergencies. Through GFC's communications outreach, the organization aims to highlight partnerships in areas like slums, refugee camps, and rural villages. The organization strives to connect community leaders with professional services and support needed to succeed. In 2023-24, GFC reports disbursing 599 grants in excess of $11 million dollars to 398 community-based organizations in 43 countries.

For the year ended June 30, 2024, Global Fund for Children's program expenses were:

Program services $8,455,194
Communications $551,009
Total Program Expenses $9,006,203

Chief Executive
John Hecklinger, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$285,037

Chair of the Board
Swatee Deepak and Greg Wallig

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
EMpower UK Director; Chief Strategy Officer, THEIA Analytics Group, Inc.

Board Size
17

Paid Staff Size
74

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements

Fundraising costs were 9% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $9,190,192, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Global Fund for Children's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Contributions and grants $9,096,583
Investment income, net $978,444
In-kind contributions $93,609
Other income $35,270
Total Income $10,203,906

Programs: 82% Fundraising: 8% Administrative: 10%

Total Income $10,203,906
Total expenses: $10,935,274
  Program expenses $9,006,203
  Fundraising expenses $827,160
  Administrative expenses $1,101,911
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-731,368
Beginning Net Assets $19,375,730
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $18,644,362
Total Liabilities $2,600,313
Total Assets $21,244,675

Note: According to GFC's audited financial statements - consolidated - for the year ended June 30, 2024, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $93,609 in the form of legal and professional services.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance