2025-04-01T08:31:07-05:00 2024-06-30 521392008 GELMAN ROSENBERG & FREEDMAN 4550 MONTGOMERY AVE SUITE 800N BETHESDA MD 208142930 990 2023-07-01 134167155 WITNESS INC WITN 7187832000 228 PARK AVE S 26641 NEW YORK NY 10003 SAMUEL GREGORY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 7187832000 2025-04-01 1 0 ELIZABETH W HELLER P00397829 3019519090 2023 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z SAMUEL GREGORY 228 PARK AVE S 26641 NEW YORK NY 10003 14968979 0 X WWW.WITNESS.ORG X 2001 DE WITNESS HELPS PEOPLE USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES GLOBALLY. WITNESS' GLOBAL TEAM DESIGNS SOLUTIONS, PROVIDES GUIDANCE, AND CO-DEVELOPS STRATEGIES THAT ENABLE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE TO HOLD THE POWERFUL TO ACCOUNT, STAND UP FOR JUSTICE, AND FORTIFY THE TRUTH. 13 13 31 13 0 0 8612823 7302135 11829 6117 89757 400782 1519 29377 8715928 7738411 66015 64886 0 0 4351375 5255136 112247 38784 737582 1889179 2170775 6418816 7529581 2297112 208830 15109334 15722114 1131176 1227413 13978158 14494701 X WITNESS INC. ("WITNESS") IS AN INTERNATIONAL, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE USE VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY TO PROTECT AND DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS. 0 0 4440158 59886 6117 TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING:WITNESS TRAININGS HELP FILL CRITICAL GAPS IN THE USE OF VIDEO FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, ENSURING THAT THE VIDEOS PEOPLE OFTEN GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO CAPTURE CAN BE TRUSTED AND VERIFIED; THAT THE PEOPLE WHO RECORD THESE VIDEOS CAN STAY SAFE AND MANAGE RISK; THAT EVIDENTIARY VIDEOS CAN BE FOUND AMIDST MASS VOLUME; THAT MOVEMENTS AND GROUPS CAN USE VISUAL STORYTELLING IN STRATEGIC AND IMPACTFUL WAYS; AND THAT NEW AND EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES CAN ENABLE GREATER CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.EACH YEAR, PROGRAM STAFF PROVIDE A SERIES OF IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL TRAININGS TO COMMUNITIES, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, JOURNALISTS, AND LAWYERS AROUND THE WORLD, SHARING CONCRETE RESOURCES, GUIDANCE, AND TOOLS AROUND THE SAFE, ETHICAL, AND EFFECTIVE USE OF VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. 478896 LEARNING AND SHARING: A PRIMARY MECHANISM BY WHICH WITNESS HELPS BUILD THE FABRIC OF ECOSYSTEMS IS THROUGH THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO LEARN AND SHARE, ENSURING THAT GUIDANCE AND TOOLS CAN BE ADAPTED TO, AND SHARED WITH, COMMUNITIES FACING SIMILAR ISSUES AROUND THE WORLD. AS PATTERNS OF WRONGDOING REPEAT THEMSELVES ACROSS BORDERS AND GEOGRAPHIES, SO TOO MUST THE STRATEGIES AND TACTICS FOR HOW VIDEO AND TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP REALIZE OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPOSE THESE ABUSES. A ROHINGYA VILLAGER TRYING TO ARCHIVE AND PRESERVE THE MASS VOLUME OF WAR CRIMES FOOTAGE CAPTURED ON THEIR MOBILE PHONE VIA WHATSAPP IN MYANMAR CAN LEARN FROM A CIVIC JOURNALIST IN SYRIA WHO HAS ALREADY THOUGHT THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES AND WORKFLOWS IN A WAR CRIMES CONTEXT; JUST AS A COMMUNITY LEADER TRYING TO PREVENT THE ILLEGAL DEFORESTATION OF THEIR LAND IN MALAYSIA CAN LEARN FROM LOCAL LEADERS USING VIDEO EVIDENCE TO END THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS IN THE AMAZON. 420892 TECHNOLOGY THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES:BUILDING ON A RICH HISTORY OF ANTICIPATING THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES POSED BY EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, WITNESS REMAINS LASER-FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT INNOVATION OPERATES IN SERVICE OF A HEALTHY AND INFORMED SOCIETY, WHILE SERVING AND PROTECTING THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. IT ENGAGES ACTORS ACROSS THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM, BRINGING GRASSROOTS PERSPECTIVES TO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES AND SCALING IMPACT IN THE PROCESS. WITNESS UTILIZES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL AND UNPRECEDENTED THREATS POSED BY EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO DEVELOP THREAT MODELS, ENSURE COMPANIES TAKE RIGHTS-RESPECTING APPROACHES, AND COLLABORATE ON APPLIED RESEARCH. THE ORGANIZATION IS A THOUGHT LEADER AND CROSS-SECTOR CONVENER, ADDRESSING THE THREATS OF SYNTHETIC MEDIA, DECEPTIVE AI, SURVEILLANCE, AND SECURITY FACING THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT AT LARGE. 24470 5000 RESOURCE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION:WITNESS ONLINE LIBRARY ENABLES PEOPLE TO ACCESS, DOWNLOAD, AND ADAPT A RANGE OF OPEN SOURCE TIPS AND GUIDANCE ON HOW TO USE VIDEO MORE SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. YEAR AFTER YEAR, WITNESS HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE OVERALL ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE RESOURCES, DEMONSTRATING APPETITE AND NEED FOR ITS MATERIALS ACROSS ISSUE AREAS, REGIONS, AND LANGUAGES. THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES THE STRATEGIC POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL PLATFORMS AS TOOLS TO WIDELY DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE TURNING TO THESE PLATFORMS TO COMMUNICATE AND PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. 24470 5000 5364416 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 20 0 1 31 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 13 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 CA DE IL NY X X SONALI THIMMAYA 7187832000 228 PARK AVE S 26641 NEW YORK NY 10003 POLLY FIELDS CO-CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MONICA ALEMAN CO-CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 HELEN ENRIGHT MEMBER, TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 SABRY MOHIDEEN MEMBER, TREASURER, (FROM 6/23) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MICHAEL HIRSCHHORN SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 PETER GABRIEL MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 INCA MOHAMED MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 ADELIN CAI MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 KOKETSO MOETI MEMBER, (FROM 6/23) 1.00 X 0 0 0 LEONARDO CUSTODIO MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 PAMILLA MUDHRAY MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JULIE OWONO MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 DEBORA DINIZ MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 SAMUEL GREGORY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 213472 0 37127 SONALI THIMMAYA DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 40.00 X 139450 0 33390 KALIM PATWA DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & SYSTEMS 40.00 X 149428 0 28065 SARA FEDERLEIN DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY 40.00 X 135000 0 33311 JACQUELIN ZAMMUTO ASS. DIR. - LEARNING & SHARING 40.00 X 108150 0 28989 TANYA KARANASIOS DIR. OF GP, (UNTIL 10/24/23) 40.00 X 120561 0 9661 YVETTE ALBERDINGK THIJM FORMER OFFICER 0.00 X 156881 0 9957 1022942 0 180500 7 1 1 0 0 4331563 2970572 7302135 HONORARIA 900099 6117 6117 6117 256087 256087 7375263 7230568 144695 144695 144695 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 20590 20590 TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS 900099 8135 8135 FX. CONVERSION LOSS 900099 652 652 29377 7738411 6117 0 430159 19500 19500 45386 45386 442759 262282 118177 62300 3735512 2751045 579360 405107 115226 84843 17883 12500 747037 552364 114070 80603 214602 155422 35316 23864 14888 3381 10142 1365 41859 41859 38784 38784 44195 44195 519610 188138 290256 41216 9456 7067 1733 656 64917 43865 10313 10739 160341 133920 26421 71872 51126 13193 7553 657791 632590 20869 4332 20373 17997 1724 652 6 6 66382 47131 11949 7302 59647 42430 10949 6268 PAYROLL SERVICES 310003 231679 56823 21501 PROGRAM EQUIPMENT 37589 37589 RECRUITMENT 32285 24128 5918 2239 PROGRAM EXPENSES 17829 13324 3268 1237 41732 19209 13159 9364 7529581 5364416 1427583 737582 310011 332761 2669327 1260628 4157145 5222551 4130 18343 114029 111917 308797 209006 125571 99791 7585186 8525955 143935 150168 15109334 15722114 366950 477413 13280 750946 750000 1131176 1227413 X 9940985 8989482 4037173 5505219 13978158 14494701 15109334 15722114 208830 307713 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 6326143 5189060 6411076 8612823 7302135 33841237 6326143 5189060 6411076 8612823 7302135 33841237 5077216 28764021 56473 47552 59918 99494 256087 519524 37163 7913 49435 1519 29377 125407 34486168 23660 0.83410 0.72030 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: MISCELLANEOUS - 2019 AMOUNT: $ 37,163. 2020 AMOUNT: $ 7,913. 2021 AMOUNT: $ 49,435. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 1,519. 2023 AMOUNT: $ 20,590. TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT - 2023 AMOUNT: $ 8,135. FX CONVERSION LOSS - 2023 AMOUNT: $ 652. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 308797 209006 99791 99791 REFUNDABLE ADVANCES 750000 750000 8274172 307713 272243 579956 7694216 44195 44195 7738411 7757629 272243 272243 7485386 44195 44195 7529581 1 EUROPE (INCLUDING ICELAND AND GREENLAND) 0 9 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 1161114 EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC 0 5 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 267627 NORTH AMERICA 0 8 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 596023 CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 0 0 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 199535 SOUTH AMERICA 0 12 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 566834 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 0 7 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 486049 SOUTH ASIA 0 1 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 69262 MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA 0 4 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 16207 RUSSIA AND NEIGHBORING STATES 0 1 PROGRAM SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING, SOLIDARITY WORK, HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM 9068 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 8000 SOUTH AMERICA 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 20020 CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 4270 EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 5000 NORTH AMERICA 0 0 GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS LOCATED IN THE REGION 8096 0 46 0 1 0 47 3362651 54454 3417105 SOUTH AMERICA SUPPORT FOR PROJECT AND STRENGTHENING OF CAPACITIES FOR VIDEO FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE TERRITORY IN THE SELECTED COMMUNNITIES 5498 WIRE TRANSFER/CREDIT CARD 0 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE OF PROTESTS AND TO STRENTHENING THE CAPACITIES FOR VIDEO FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE TERRITORY IN THE SELECTED COMMUNITIES 8000 WIRE TRANSFER 0 2 0 SUPPORT FOR HUMAN RESOURCE AND OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC - AUSTRALIA, BRUNEI, BURMA, CAMBODIA, 1 5000 WIRE TRANSFER SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FRONTLINE OF PROTESTS ANDTO STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIES FOR VIDEO FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE TERRITORY IN THE SELECTED COMMUNITIES. SOUTH AMERICA - ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, CHILE, COLUMBIA, ECUADOR, 6 14522 WIRE TRANSFER SUPPORT FOR AUDIOVISUAL CAMPAIGN & MINIDOCUMENTARY NORTH AMERICA - CANADA AND MEXICO, BUT NOT THE UNITED STATES 4 8096 WIRE TRANSFER 1 0 0 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 2: WITNESS IS NOT A GRANTMAKING ORGANIZATION. WE SOMETIMES PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR PARTNERS IN THE FORM OF MICROGRANTS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE. THE PROVISION OF THESE SMALL MICROGRANTS REQUIRES A LETTER OF AGREEMENT OR CONTRACT TO OUTLINE ANTICIPATED ACTIVITIES OR AREAS OF SPENDING, BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE MONITORING OR REPORTING FROM THE PARTNER. WE DO OFTEN RECEIVE ANECDOTAL FEEDBACK FROM PARTNERS ABOUT HOW THE MICROGRANT HAS SUPPORTED THEIR WORK. X X X X X 1 STEFAN SIRUCEK 15 PARKSIDE COURT BROOKLYN NY 11226 GRANT WRITING SUPPORT 0 0 18411 -18411 CLARA PETERSON 133 N 5TH ST BROOKLYN NY 11249 GRANT WRITING SUPPORT 0 0 20373 -20373 38784 -38784 CA DE IL NY 1 MEEDAN INC 575 MARKET ST 4TH FLOOR SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105 204504068 501(C)(3) 15000 0 TO SUPPORT THE CRISIS RESPONSE FOR THE GAZA WAR, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EQUIPMENT AND INTERNET/COMMS BUNDLES. 1 0 PART I, LINE 2: WITNESS IS NOT A GRANTMAKING ORGANIZATION. WE SOMETIMES PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR PARTNERS IN THE FORM OF MICROGRANTS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE. THE PROVISION OF THESE SMALL MICROGRANTS REQUIRES A LETTER OF AGREEMENT OR CONTRACT TO OUTLINE ANTICIPATED ACTIVITIES OR AREAS OF SPENDING, BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE MONITORING OR REPORTING FROM THE PARTNER. WE DO OFTEN RECEIVE ANECDOTAL FEEDBACK FROM PARTNERS ABOUT HOW THE MICROGRANT HAS SUPPORTED THEIR WORK. X X X X 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SAMUEL GREGORY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 213472 0 0 0 0 0 6518 0 30609 0 250599 0 0 0 KALIM PATWA DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & SYSTEMS 149428 0 0 0 0 0 1702 0 26363 0 177493 0 0 0 SONALI THIMMAYA DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 139450 0 0 0 0 0 4247 0 29143 0 172840 0 0 0 SARA FEDERLEIN DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY 135000 0 0 0 0 0 4115 0 29196 0 168311 0 0 0 YVETTE ALBERDINGK THIJM FORMER OFFICER 136881 0 0 0 20000 0 3158 0 6799 0 166838 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 4A YVETTE ALBERDINGK THIJM RECEIVED A 20K SEVERANCE PAYMENT DURING THE YEAR. 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. THE BOARD AND MANAGEMENT TAKE UP THE AFFAIRS OF WITNESS, IT IS THE OBLIGATION OF BOARD AND STAFF MEMBERS TO DISCLOSE A POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST AT ONCE AND, WHEN A FINANCIAL INTEREST MAY BE INVOLVED, TO ABSTAIN FROM ANY INFLUENCE OR VOTE ON THE MATTER AND TO BE ABSENT DURING THE BOARD'S REVIEW AND VOTE ON THE DECISION IN QUESTION. THE ABSTENTION AND ABSENCE SHOULD BE NOTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. IF A BOARD OR STAFF MEMBER IS IN DOUBT AS TO WHETHER THERE IS A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN A SPECIFIC SITUATION, DISCLOSURE AND CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD CHAIR OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS ADVISED. 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 CONSULTING FIRM IN 2019, AND IS UPDATED BY HUMAN RESOURCES ANNUALLY. THE HR TEAM CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE BENCHMARKING EXERCISE USING DATA FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, INCLUDING BASE SALARIES AGAINST DATA FROM NGOS SIMILAR TO WITNESS. WE SET STARTING SALARIES BASED ON THE 50TH PERCENTILE OF THE BENCHMARK DATA, AND EVERYONE WHOSE SALARY WAS BELOW THE NEW BENCHMARKED SALARY RECEIVED AN INCREASE. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS GAVE FINAL APPROVAL FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY. THE LAST COMPENSATION REVIEW TOOK PLACE IN DECEMBER 2023. THE SAME COMPENSATION REVIEW PROCESS IS USED FOR OTHER OFFICERS AND KEY STAFF. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON ITS WEBSITE, WWW.WITNESS.ORG, AND BY REQUEST.