Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 2,777,078 | 3,129,291 | 3,901,768 | 7,194,107 | 6,326,143 | 23,328,387 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 2,777,078 | 3,129,291 | 3,901,768 | 7,194,107 | 6,326,143 | 23,328,387 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | 12,056,867 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 11,271,520 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 2,777,078 | 3,129,291 | 3,901,768 | 7,194,107 | 6,326,143 | 23,328,387 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 30,406 | 18,182 | 50,533 | 41,511 | 56,473 | 197,105 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 46,256 | 70,920 | 50,096 | 86,887 | 37,163 | 291,322 |
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 23,816,814 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
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| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 1-1/2% of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by .035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | ||
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
||
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | ||
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | ||
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required) | ||
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | ||
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | ||
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
||
| 9 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6 | ||
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | ||
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2019 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2019 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2019: | ||||
| a From 2014....... | ||||
| b From 2015....... | ||||
| c From 2016....... | ||||
| d From 2017....... | ||||
| e From 2018....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2019 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2014 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2019 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2019 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2019, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2019. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2020. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2015..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1 | WITNESS HELPS PEOPLE USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS. WITNESS OPERATES GLOBALLY IN FIVE REGIONS: SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, AND THE UNITED STATES. OUR GLOBAL TEAM DESIGNS SOLUTIONS, PROVIDES GUIDANCE, AND DEVELOPS STRATEGIES THAT ENABLE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE TO HOLD THE POWERFUL TO ACCOUNT AND STAND UP FOR JUSTICE. WITNESS AIMS TO ENSURE THAT VIDEOS CAN BE TRUSTED AND IMPACTFUL, THAT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS CAN BE SAFER, AND THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. CO-FOUNDED IN 1992 BY ADVOCATE AND MUSICIAN PETER GABRIEL, TO DATE, WITNESS HAS PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN 570 HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS REPRESENTING 135+ COUNTRIES AND TRAINED 11,350+ HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND CIVIC ACTIVISTS. IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE, WE REACHED OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE WITH WITNESS RESOURCES. AS A RESULT OF WITNESS' GUIDANCE, ACTIVISTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY MORE SAFELY, ETHICALLY, AND EFFECTIVELY TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS AND REALIZE OPPORTUNITIES, PROTECT RULE OF LAW, FIGHT OPPRESSION AND INEQUALITY, HOLD GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE, AND FULLY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. HIGHLIGHT ACTIVITIES FROM THE LAST YEAR INCLUDE: COVID-19 RESPONSE: IN MARCH 2020, WITNESS LAUNCHED OUR RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, LED BY WHAT WE WERE LEARNING AND HEARING FROM COMMUNITIES OF ACTIVISM, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND JOURNALISM GLOBALLY. AT THE HEART OF OUR RESPONSE, WE LAUNCHED A COVID-19 RESPONSE HUB TO PROVIDE TAILORED GUIDANCE, CASE STUDIES, SAMPLE VIDEOS, AND TOOLS FOR ACTIVISTS, CIVIC MEDIA MAKERS, FRONTLINE WITNESSES, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. BY THE END OF JUNE, THE HUB YIELDED SIX BRAND NEW RESOURCES, 10,000+ DOWNLOADS, AND A MULTILINGUAL LANDING PAGE GENERATING 12,000+ READS FROM USERS IN 67+ COUNTRIES. THE LANDING PAGE WAS TRANSLATED INTO ARABIC, PORTUGUESE, AND SPANISH AND QUICKLY BECAME A GO-TO RESOURCE FOR ACTIVISTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AROUND THE GLOBE. THIS CENTRALIZED RESOURCE DISSEMINATION WAS ACCOMPANIED BY LOCALLY-GROUNDED RESPONSES. OUR AFRICA TEAM COLLECTED AND CURATED VIDEOS OF ABUSES CARRIED OUT BY SECURITY FORCES UNDER THE PRETENSE OF LOCKDOWNS AND RESTRICTIONS ON MOVEMENT. OUR BRAZIL TEAM ORGANIZED WEEKLY LIVE STREAMS WITH OUR PARTNERS TO BRING ATTENTION TO GRASSROOTS REALITIES, SUCH AS COVID-RELATED MISINFORMATION AND THE NEED FOR IMPROVED HEALTH POLICIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. AS TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES QUICKLY ROLLED OUT NEW GUIDELINES, WE KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR RESPONSES. WE CO-LED ON A PROCESS TO BRING TOGETHER 75 CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN AN OPEN LETTER CALLING FOR PLATFORMS TO PRESERVE CRITICAL DATA DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND REVIEWED KEY TRENDS IN PLATFORM RESPONSE TO MIS- AND DISINFORMATION AND HARMFUL SPEECH. ARCHIVING AND PRESERVATION: WITNESS CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN A SUSTAINABLE FIELD OF PRACTICE AROUND ARCHIVING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. AS FRONTLINE VIDEO DOCUMENTATION CAPTURED BY VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES SURGES GLOBALLY, WE ARE DISSEMINATING GUIDANCE AT SCALE, SHARING LEARNINGS BETWEEN REGIONS, AND SEEDING LOCAL ARCHIVES WITH PARTNERS BASED IN COUNTRIES PLAGUED BY CONFLICT AND WAR CRIMES. THIS MARKED OUR THIRD YEAR OF ENGAGEMENT IN BURMA, COLLECTING AND VERIFYING VISUAL MEDIA EVIDENCE DEPICTING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. IN ADDITION TO ONGOING PRESERVATION, WE ARE BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND SYSTEMS-LEVEL STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY, MEMBERS OF THE ROHINGYA COMMUNITY, AND OTHER RELEVANT ACTORS CAN USE THE COLLECTION FOR ADVOCACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. LESSONS LEARNED IN THE BURMA CONTEXT ARE INFORMING SIMILAR ARCHIVING PROJECTS IN YEMEN AND WEST PAPUA, AND HELPED SUPPORT PARTNERS IN CHILE AND ARGENTINA GRAPPLING WITH PRESERVATION DURING ACUTE MOMENTS OF PROTEST. AS PART OF OUR ONGOING THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN THE FIELD, SENIOR ARCHIVIST YVONNE NG CONTRIBUTED A CHAPTER ABOUT PRESERVING OPEN-SOURCE INFORMATION TO THE GROUNDBREAKING NEW BOOK DIGITAL WITNESS: USING OPEN-SOURCE INFORMATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATION, DOCUMENTATION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. PREPARING FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF MIS- AND DISINFORMATION THREATS AND SOLUTIONS: FOR THE LAST DECADE, WITNESS HAS EXPLORED HOW INTERNET PLATFORMS MEDIATE TRUST, FILTER EVIDENCE ONLINE, AND AMPLIFY OR SUPPRESS MARGINALIZED VOICES. FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON RESEARCH, CONVENING, AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND PROACTIVE APPROACHES TO PROTECTING AND UPHOLDING MARGINALIZED VOICES, CIVIC JOURNALISM, AND HUMAN RIGHTS AS EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS AI INTERSECT WITH DISINFORMATION, MEDIA MANIPULATION, AND AUTHORITARIANISM. AMID THE ESCALATING PANIC AROUND SOPHISTICATED AUDIO AND VIDEO MANIPULATIONS CALLED "DEEPFAKES," WE HAVE FOUND THAT PROPOSED SOLUTIONS LARGELY ORIGINATE IN WASHINGTON DC AND SILICON VALLEY - EXCLUDING GLOBAL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN AFFECTED BY SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES. THIS YEAR, WE HOSTED A SERIES OF EXPERT PREPAREDNESS MEETINGS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (BRAZIL, SOUTH AFRICA, AND MALAYSIA) TO INFORM A GLOBALLY INCLUSIVE, HUMAN RIGHTS-LED DISCUSSION ABOUT DEEPFAKES AND OTHER FORMS OF MEDIA MANIPULATION. THESE CONVENINGS BROUGHT TOGETHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF EXISTING PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS RESEARCHERS, JOURNALISTS, FACT-CHECKERS, GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS, MOVEMENT LEADERS, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, AND POLICY MAKERS. INSIGHTS GLEANED FROM THESE CONVENINGS (E.G. THE THREAT OF WEAPONIZATION BY STATE ACTORS, "ZERO TRUST" SOCIETIES, AND GAPS IN RESPONSE CAPACITIES) HELPED US PRIORITIZE THREATS AND SOLUTIONS, INFORM PLATFORM POLICIES AT FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, AND INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUTHENTICITY INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OURSELVES AS A CRITICAL CROSS-SECTOR CONVENER AND THOUGHT LEADER, BRINGING A SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED, GLOBAL, AND HUMAN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE TO VISIBLE, INFLUENTIAL CONVERSATIONS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | SENIOR MANAGEMENT REVIEWS AND EVALUATES THE INFORMATION BEING COMPILED FOR THE 990 IN ADVANCE OF PREPARING A DRAFT, AND REVIEWS THE FINAL 990 PRIOR TO IRS FILING. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS A FINAL DRAFT OF THE 990, AND THEN THE FINAL 990 IS CIRCULATED TO THE FULL BOARD PRIOR TO IRS FILING. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | AS PART OF ONBOARDING, ALL NEW MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM. ADDITIONALLY, ALL BOARD MEMBERS MUST COMPLETE A NEW CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | BASE SALARY AND SALARY INCREASES FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION, AND STAYING WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S SALARY STRUCTURE. THE SALARY STRUCTURE WAS LAST UPDATED BY AN EXTERNAL COMPENSATION CONSULTANTING FIRM IN 2019, AND IS NOW ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BY HUMAN RESOURCES. THIS SALARY STRUCTURE INCLUDES SALARIES FOR ALL STAFF, INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OTHER KEY STAFF. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE ORGANIZATION'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON ITS WEBSITE, WWW.WITNESS.ORG, AND BY REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: | FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE GAIN 37,545. |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |