2021-09-29T06:51:36-07:00 2020-12-31 134036703 SCHALL & ASHENFARB CPAS 307 5th Ave 15th Floor NEW YORK NY 10016 990 2020-01-01 133116646 Human Rights First HUMA 2128455200 75 Broad Street Fl 31 New York NY 10004 Michael Breen President & CEO 2021-09-29 true Michael Breen 999009999 Michael Schall P02024184 2122682800 2 AAL1 IAL1 FAL1 2020 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z Michael Breen 75 Broad Street Fl 31 New York NY 10004 22772994 false X www.humanrightsfirst.org X 1978 NY To empower Americans to work for justice in our own communities and around the world. 21 21 77 1000 0 13824855 12344382 0 213893 287299 295224 244513 14333972 12876194 0 0 6568731 7000688 58000 4000 794884 3787620 3405257 10414351 10409945 3919621 2466249 13961911 18327603 1322521 2614844 12639390 15712759 Human Rights First is an independent advocacy and action organization that challenges America to live up to its ideals. We believe American leadership is essential in the global struggle for human rights, so we press the U.S. government and private companies to respect human rights and the rule of law. When they fail, we step in to demand reform, accountability and justice. Around the world, we work where we can best harness American influence to secure core freedoms. We know it's not enough to expose and protest injustice, so we create the political environment and policy solutions necessary to ensure consistent respect for human rights. Whether we are protecting refugees, combating torture, or defending persecuted minorities, we focus not on making a point, but on making a difference. For more than 40 years, we've built bipartisan coalitions and teamed up with front line activists and lawyers to tackle global challenges that demand American leadership. false false 5952926 PROTECTING REFUGEESHuman Rights Firsts Refugee Representation team promotes human rights by assisting refugees who are fleeing persecution. We provide legal representation, frequently with pro bono lawyers, to help our clients access legal protections in the United States consistent with U.S. and international law. We also assist our clients in accessing other critical services. We use this experience to advocate for laws and policies that protect refugees.In 2020, volunteer lawyers in the New York, Washington, D.C., Houston, and Los Angeles metropolitan areas provided more than 74,000 hours of in-kind legal services. During that period, we represented more than 1,448 people from 86 countries and won legal protection for 55 clients and family members. We also conducted 4 pro bono attorney trainings, equipping over 450 attorneys to represent asylum clients.Among the key 2020 policy achievements resulting from our advocacy to protect refugees were the following:--Secured a federal court order vacating the asylum transit ban nationwide. This victory helped protect many refugees from being deported in violation of U.S. law to their countries of persecution.--Won federal court orders requiring 8 of our medically vulnerable clients to be released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Donated Legal and Related Expenses: $54,974,018 1680130 INNOVATION LAB, ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNCATION & OUTREACHINNOVATION LAB - Human Rights Firsts Innovation Lab is a hub for discovering, developing, and delivering tech solutions to pressing human rights issues.Key 2020 achievements include:--Completed successful pilot of a new system to detect violent hate speech on social media platforms and provided the system to allied NGOs and journalists.-- Completed beta-test of a new system to protect human rights defenders from online threats and harassment.--Established partnerships with data science and software development organizations that led to the prototyping of three different tools to address systemic injustice and issues around the misuse of force by police.ACCOUNTABILTY - Human Rights Firsts Accountability team works to hold the worlds most corrupt actors and human rights abusers accountable for their actions.Key 2020 achievements resulting from our advocacy to strengthen the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy include:--Secured U.S. government-issued sanctions designations against more than 100 individuals and entities involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption, including sanctions against Chinese government officials and entities responsible for abuses in Xinjiang.--Helped to facilitate the UK and EU governments adoption of targeted sanctions regimes to combat human rights abuses.--Secured special appropriations for the State and Treasury offices responsible for implementing targeted sanctions.--Obtained broad civil society consensus to oppose Trump Administration sanctions imposed against the International Criminal Court.--Secured legislation sanctioning Hong Kong officials for their crackdown on pro-democracy activists.Total Donated Legal and Related Expenses for all three programs: $2,344,132 1002467 NATIONAL SECURITY ADVOCACYWe have worked for more than two decades to challenge U.S. national security policies that violate human rights and undermine U.S. global leadership. In 2020, our objectives included: - Strengthening the domestic and international law restrictions on the use of counterterrorism war powers that enable extrajudicial killings, indefinite detention, and military tribunals. - Securing additional transparency, accountability, oversight, and rule of law protections for the U.S. targeted killing program.- Closing the detention facilities at Guantanamo and ensuring that the U.S. policies of indefinite detention and trial by military commission are limited and ultimately ended.- Solidifying a durable, bipartisan consensus against torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by closing loopholes that could allow detainee abuse.- Imposing more robust protections against racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia for servicemembers of color and other minority groups in the military. - Curbing the militarization of police by reining in their ability to acquire military-grade equipment through a series of federal programs. Among the key 2020 achievements resulting from our advocacy to bring U.S. national security policy into compliance with human rights norms were the following:--Prevented the transfer of new detainees to the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.--Secured legislation providing transparency regarding the legal and policy frameworks for U.S. counterterrorism operations.--The FY2021 NDAA included provisions requiring the renaming of Confederate-named Army bases and restricting the types of military-grade equipment provided to state and local law enforcement via the 1033 program.Donated Legal and Related Expenses: $1,002,467 8635523 true true false true false false false false false true true false false false true true true false false true true false false false true false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 28 0 true 77 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 21 21 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true false false NY X X Kurt Pacquette 2128455200 75 Broad Street Floor 31 New York NY 10004 Michael Breen President & CEO 37.50 0.00 X 288882 0 20902 Welton Chang Chief Technology Officer 37.50 0.00 223969 0 5755 Robert Berschinski Senior VP, Policy 37.50 0.00 171835 0 11655 Eleanor Acer Sr Dir Refugee Pro 37.50 0.00 152951 0 30171 Sharon Kelly McBride Senior VP, Advocacy 37.50 0.00 167222 0 12149 Hardy Vieux Senior VP, Legal 37.50 0.00 160323 0 11904 Jennifer Mellen Senior VP, Development 37.50 0.00 160769 0 3286 Raha Wala Sr. Dir., Govt Rel 37.50 0.00 151961 0 8709 Bishop Morris Garrison Jr Ntl Sec Outreach 37.50 0.00 148895 0 8719 James Bernfield Sr.VP of Mktg&Comm 37.50 0.00 129032 0 21079 Zachary Silverstein COO 37.50 0.00 X 125740 0 18224 Cynthia M Burns Director of Oprtns 37.50 0.00 127630 0 15133 Kurt Pacquette Finance Direct. 37.50 0.00 X 119755 0 11134 Nicole Elkon COO 37.50 0.00 X 119231 0 1889 Michael K Rozen Co-Chair 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Mona Sutphen Co-Chair 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Tony Blinken Vice Chair 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Lynda Clarizio VC & Treasurer 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Robbie Karp Secretary 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 J Adam Abram Treas till 6/20 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Tom A Bernstein Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Elizabeth Bowyer Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Donald Donovan Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Matthew Dontzin Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Leslie Gimbel-left in '20 Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 RS Greathead-left in '20 Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 M Greenberg-left in '20 Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Lewis B Kaden-left in '20 Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Kerry Kennedy Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Robert N Kreamer Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Bobby Mandell Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 David Matthews Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 A Ashe Meyers - left in '20 Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Alberto Mora Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Hassan Murphy Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Matthew G Olsen Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Sanja Partalo Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Cindy Simon - Skjodt Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Lev A Sviridov Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 William D Zabel Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 2248195 180709 21 false true false West End Strategy Team 2401 Pennsylvania Ave NW 410 Washington DC 20037 Strategic Communications 132000 Brian Dooley 11 Poyntz Road London UK SW11 58H Program Advisor 120000 2 1350362 496500 10497520 12344382 0 137368 137368 0 0 0 10046731 9896800 149931 149931 149931 1350362 0 0 0 Fellowship income 900099 225860 225860 Miscellaneous 900099 18653 18653 244513 12876194 244513 287299 0 0 0 0 1634624 1364040 157471 113113 0 4253046 3549022 409716 294308 56950 47046 5915 3989 608996 504458 62023 42515 447072 370603 45286 31183 0 18475 18475 46057 23028 23029 0 4000 4000 40795 40795 801870 771420 6490 23960 25152 24423 625 104 31824 20611 10324 889 125461 105715 12325 7421 0 1427443 1225718 102860 98865 39061 36049 1860 1152 0 199788 98336 1420 100032 0 0 154451 136666 5303 12482 65991 54938 6443 4610 Repairs & maintenance 187983 144353 16729 26901 Copying 59070 49643 5482 3945 Bank, investmt. & payroll fees 53815 1683 38893 13239 Miscellaneous 35105 33607 416 1082 92916 74164 7658 11094 10409945 8635523 979538 794884 1704 3156 910635 1231898 6906308 8321230 65233 158153 0 0 0 0 120138 102439 2464375 2126007 442949 338368 4834101 7482869 539584 552471 0 0 141259 137019 13961911 18327603 471843 440017 400000 1080785 850678 694042 1322521 2614844 X -92107 -280426 12731497 15993185 12639390 15712759 13961911 18327603 X 2466249 87120 520000 X false true X true false X 10290212 6971612 16138186 8824855 12344382 54569247 0 0 10290212 6971612 16138186 8824855 12344382 54569247 11902093 42667154 324366 219287 59945 152976 137368 893942 0 453519 467798 385336 295224 244513 1846390 57309579 0.74450 0.81200 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false 17712 231783 249495 8386028 8635523 581776 145444 false 620099 562212 575826 581776 2339913 3509870 444941 324492 256534 249495 1275462 155025 140553 143957 145444 584979 877469 79497 90396 20742 17712 208347 4310769 43000 670439 -207574 4816634 1004885 2893688 412196 4310769 922030 670000 -27145 -560000 1004885 1003496 507952 40582 -630000 922030 1111291 -107795 1003496 1.00000 false false false 1008232 738334 269898 976001 909015 66986 480142 478658 1484 338368 Deferred Rent 694042 694042 X 63203657 87120 49761138 520000 50368258 12835399 40795 40795 12876194 60130288 49761138 49761138 10369150 40795 40795 10409945 Part V, Line 4: Intended uses of the endowment fund. In 2011, the Organization received a donor-restricted endowment to be held in perpetuity in a separate permanent fund to be distributed to promote the policies and projects of the Organization.In 2018 and continuing into 2019 and 2020, the Organization received additional donor-restricted endowment funds to be held in perpetuity in a separate restricted fund to be used for (i) representing and/or advocating for refugees, (ii) supporting human rights defenders, and (iii) advancing U.S. policy in human rights. It also permits the Board to change programmatic focus as long as the focus remains in the spirit of the donor's intent. Part X : FIN48 Footnote The Organization does not believe its financial statements include any material, uncertain tax positions. Tax filings for the periods ending December 31, 2017 and later are subject to examination by applicable taxing authorities. Part XI, Line 2d: Other revenue amounts included in F/S but not included on form 990 Amortization of discount of LT pledge $520000 Europe 0 1 Program Services Research/ Advocacy 120326 North America 0 0 Program Services Research/ Advocacy 1812 East Asia and Pacific 0 1 Program Services Legal Review/Ref. Rep. 82822 2 2 204960 204960 false false false false false false X X X X X X true AL AK AR AR CA CO CT DC FL GA HI IL KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC TN UT VA WA WV WI Award Dinner 1350362 1350362 1350362 1350362 X X X X X false false false false false false false false false Bishop Morris Garrison Jr Ntl Sec Outreach 148895 8719 157614 Eleanor Acer Sr Dir Refugee Pro 152951 3223 26948 183122 Hardy Vieux Senior VP, Legal 160323 3177 8727 172227 James Bernfield Sr.VP of Mktg&Comm 129032 1938 19141 150111 Jennifer Mellen Senior VP, Development 160769 3215 71 164055 Michael Breen President & CEO 288882 5650 15252 309784 Raha Wala Sr. Dir., Govt Rel 151961 8709 160670 Robert Berschinski Senior VP, Policy 171835 2923 8732 183490 Sharon Kelly McBride Senior VP, Advocacy 167222 3417 8732 179371 Welton Chang Chief Technology Officer 223969 4500 1255 229724 Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b: Form 990 Review Process Form 990 was prepared by our accounting firm in conjunction with the Organization's financial department. The draft form was reviewed by the Organization's SVP of Finance, Counsel, President/CEO, and key members of the executive team. A complete copy of the Form 990 was then provided to all members of the board of directors via electronic mail before it was filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c: Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of Conflicts The Organization requires all directors, officers, and key employees annually to acknowledge receipt of the conflict of interest policy and disclose any potential conflicts of interest. The Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of the Board review all annual disclosures, in addition to any other disclosures made during the course of the year. Any disclosure that indicates a potential conflict of interest is reported to the audit committee and appropriate follow up is undertaken as set forth in the policy. The Organization's conflict of interest policy requires that individuals with conflicts of interest with respect to a particular transation or action may not participate in the discussion or decision making with respect to that transaction. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a: Compensation Review & Approval Process - CEO, Top Management After a performance review, the executive committee sets the compensation of the organization's President and CEO based on a review of compensation paid by comparable organizations for comparable positions and based on appropriate salary surveys of comparable positions in comparable organizations. The executive committee contemporaneously documents the basis for its decisions. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available The organization makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available either on the website or upon request. Other Changes In Net Assets Or Fund Balances - Other Increases Amortization of Discount of Long-term Pledge = $520000