GEARBOX INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

GEARBOX INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

EIN 61-1788988 · International, Foreign Affairs, and National Security N.E.C.

What they do

GEARBOX INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONS (THE ORGANIZATION) PURPOSE is to SUPPORT and FACILITATE THE CREATION and OPERATION of "MAKERSPACES" IN DEVELOPING REGIONS of THE WORLD.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $65.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2018The report may be old. Ask for a newer one.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders6 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

75.26%of revenue went to mission work65.2% of expenses · Program services

8.72%of revenue went to fundraising7.6% of expenses

$115.51spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

31.52%of revenue went to management and office costs27.3% of expenses

$0.09in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

100.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $31,793 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $52,552 for PAUL BIRKELO (PRESIDENT, EXEC. DIR. , AND SEC.). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2018

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$205,000

Mission workProgram services$154,29275.26% of revenue65.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$64,61631.52% of revenue27.3% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$17,8858.72% of revenue7.6% of expenses

Total expenses$236,793115.51% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2018CurrentExpense mix: 65.2% mission · 27.3% management · 7.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 115.51% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 61.5% mission · 0.0% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 90.34% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$205,000

Expenses$236,793

Annual shortfall $31,793 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$154,292 · 65.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$64,616 · 27.3% of expenses

Fundraising$17,885 · 7.6% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$205,000

Expenses$236,793

Assets$21,663

Income$205,000

Contributions$205,000

Mission work (program services)$154,292

Fundraising$17,885

Management and general$64,616

Executive compensation (total)$52,552

Accounting fees$43,691

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2018

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

PAUL BIRKELOPRESIDENT, EXEC. DIR. , AND SEC. · 50 hrs/week $52,552

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (6)

PAUL BIRKELOPRESIDENT, EXEC. DIR. , AND SEC.

DAVID LIDIRECTOR

EMEKA OKAFORDIRECTOR

ERIK HERSMANCHAIRMAN

JOSIAH MUGAMBIDIRECTOR - UNTIL 06/2018

KATE GAGETREASURER

About this charity

Location: 177 HUNTINGTON AVE 1703 NO 37862, BOSTON, MA 02115
County: Suffolk
In care of: PAUL BIRKELO
Primary officer: PAUL BIRKELO, PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(617) 412-7310

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2018
Tax period began: January 1, 2018
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: MARCUM LLP
IRS tax category: International, Foreign Affairs, and National Security N.E.C.