Frequently Asked Questions

New America is guided by principles of full transparency, independence, and accessibility in all of its activities and partnerships. New America’s gift acceptance and independence principles are available on its website and are communicated directly to its donors. New America has long been in a leader in funding transparency, earning four stars from Charity Navigator in 2018. The Active Funding Transparency Table is a continuation of New America’s tradition of transparency about funding and its purpose.

What is the Active Funding Transparency Table?

The Active Funding Transparency Table displays on a biannual basis all active funding at the gift level by program at or above $1,000. For each gift, the table will include the source, amount, duration, and the program or initiative the funding supports.

What is the methodology for the table?

Our Active Funding Transparency Table shows all active funding for the fiscal year, at or above $1,000, and is updated at the close of the second and fourth quarter. The table lists funding gift-by-gift with columns for the source, amount, duration, and the program or initiative the funding supports. For gifts without explicit start and end dates indicated by the donor/partner, New America assigns a one year term starting on the date the gift was received. By the close of 2018 this table will show all funding that was active at any time in 2018. The process will be repeated for all subsequent years, and previous years’ data, beginning with 2018, will remain available.

What was New America’s existing policy around funding disclosure (pre-2018)?

Prior to 2018, New America’s policy for public funding disclosure included publishing a list of all donors organized by cumulative annual giving level. The list was updated quarterly on our website and published annually in our annual report. New America does not accept anonymous contributions.

What is New America’s policy now around funding disclosure (post-January 2018)?

In 2018, New America will continue to recognize its list of donors, organized by cumulative giving level, annually on our website and in our annual report. In addition, beginning with the close of Q1 2018, New America will publish a table on its website that shows all active funding at the gift level by program at or above $1,000. For each gift, the table will include the source, amount, duration, and the program or initiative the funding supports. New America will update this information after the close of the second and fourth quarter each year. At the end of the year, the information will remain available, and a new table will be started for the new year.

How often will you update the table?

After the close of the second and fourth quarter each year.

What are all of the documents that report New America’s financial information?

New America publishes several documents that together communicate the financial health of the organization.

• Annual Report: New America publishes its Annual Report online. It includes a list of all donors organized by cumulative annual giving level and summaries of annual revenue and expenses, categorized by revenue from which sectors, and expense allocation to Program, General Operating, and Fundraising uses.
  
• Form 990: Like all federally tax-exempt organizations under section 501, New America files a Form 990 with the IRS and makes the most recent copies available for public viewing. New America’s most recent Form 990 is on its website, and the most recent three years are available by request as is required by law.
  
• Audited Financial Statements: New America makes its most recent audited financial statements publicly available on its website. An independent CPA conducts an audit to examine the financial records, transactions, accounting practices, and internal controls to ensure they adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
  
• Active Funding Transparency Table: Starting with Q1 2018, New America will publish a biannual table of all active funding at or above $1,000, with the source, amount, duration, and the program or initiative the funding supports. Gifts under $1,000 will be listed separately on the website, by cumulative annual giving level.
  

Why is the total gift amount in the table different from the revenue reported in the Annual Report and the Form 990?

There are differences between revenue recognition and the display of active funding. The table displays the full dollar amount of a gift that is active in any part of the fiscal year. That is, the full amount of a multi-year gift is displayed in the table, not just the portion of the gift that is used in that quarter or year. Revenue in the Form 990 and the Annual Report is reported in the year in which it is earned. For example, for a gift with a term of January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2018, the total dollar amount would be reported as revenue in 2015 in the Form 990 and Annual Report, but the total dollar amount will also be listed in the Active Funding Transparency Table for Q1 2018 because the gift is still active during Q1 2018.

For additional information, please contact development@newamerica.org.