2026-02-04T10:26:45-08:00 2025-03-31 Crosby & Kaneda CPAs LLP 548 Market St PMB 97503 San Francisco CA 94104 990 2024-04-01 453543427 Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives GLOB 5108839490 1958 University Avenue Berkeley CA 94704 Christine Keith Executive Dir. 2026-02-04 true true Felix Gorrindo P01658413 5108352727 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Christine Keith 8241301 false X http://www.no-burn.org X 2011 CA GAIAs mission is to strengthen grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution, working towards a just, zero waste world where people are free from toxic pollution. This entails fighting pollution and building regenerative solutions around the globe. 5 5 28 200 0 8112078 8190458 40353 12200 34193 28596 11529 10047 8198153 8241301 2945034 2233147 0 2646140 3006560 42203 43458 362214 3677049 3077353 9310426 8360518 -1112273 -119217 5007174 5426804 1202771 1741618 3804403 3685186 X GAIAs mission is to strengthen grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution, working towards a just, zero waste world where people are free from toxic pollution. false false 2390778 401472 4250 GLOBAL PROGRAMS: GAIAs movement-building network model empowered members to build their own capacity, facilitated international solidarity, and coordinated collective research and initiatives around the issues of waste, pollution, climate and the environment, building critical linkages at local, regional and global levels. Zero Waste: Zero Waste Month activities in January 2025 engaged more than 46,000 people, 104 organizations, 92 cities, and 20 countries in efforts to advance real solutions together, with 72 schools integrating zero waste learning while 86 government entities engaged in meaningful dialogue and commitments. GAIA facilitated member engagement, capacity building and cross-programmatic and cross-regional learning through a variety of international and regional webinars and events. Notably, GAIA and member Nipe Fagio organized the International Zero Waste Cities Conference in Tanzania in July 2024, the first time this event was held in Africa.Climate: GAIA increased awareness of zero waste as a strategy for reducing methane emissions from landfills through improved organic waste management, organizing a Methane and Justice Summit to foster deeper alignment among GAIA members and key leaders at local, national, and international levels, yielding tangible commitments from an increasing number of government representatives, civil society organizations, and key partners. In October 2024, GAIA Asia Pacific organized the First Congress on Organics and Climate, with over 200 participants attending in person and more than 1,400 joining online. GAIA brought a 35-member delegation to COP29, and remains deeply engaged in the LOW Methane initiative, leading or co-leading (with members) LOW-M coordination of activities in 13 jurisdictions. GAIA Africa supported work in 11 countries on reducing methane through better organics management. Plastics: In work toward a global plastics treaty, GAIA has always understood that the treaty negotiations are a vehicle to galvanize action on plastics, and we and our members have maintained and built on regional and cross-regional coordination of members. At INC-4 and INC-5 negotiating sessions, we coordinated delegations of 70+ civil society participants from 30 countries. Our delegations built on the extensive efforts of regional working groups. We released a range of briefing papers and other resources, as well as contributing to significant academic articles related to plastic pollution issues. At INC-4, our robust communications efforts secured over 200 media mentions with a reach of 404 million. At INC-5, we secured over 220 media mentions with a reach of up to 2.22 billion.Waste Incineration: GAIA continued to support global information-sharing and solidarity around ending wasteful and polluting waste incineration, with notable work addressing incinerators and incinerator proposals in Brazil, Canada, Chile, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, and the U.S. During 2024, GAIA helped to mobilize and support civil society from multiple regions in strong advocacy around the Asian Development Banks draft Environmental and Social Framework, in the context of its role in supporting waste incineration projects. We also held a webinar, Rethinking Waste-to-Energy Investments: Economic Considerations for Policymakers highlighting the costs of incineration across the Asia-Pacific region in January 2025.Batteries Lifecycle: Both in the U.S. and globally, GAIA has helped to shape the conversation to address lifecycle issues of batteries that are playing an increasing role in energy transition, through webinars and brief publications addressing key issues. 1742996 976500 450 UNITED STATES/CANADA REGIONAL WORK: GAIA supported members across the U.S. and Canada through technical support, regranting (including both larger grants and microgrants), skill-building and networking to challenge waste incineration and advance zero waste solutions with notable successes. Our Failing Incinerators Project, a multi-year cohort program aimed at building grassroots capacity to advocate for replacing aging incinerators across the U.S. with effective zero waste systems, celebrated two more incinerator closures (one led by a cohort member in Oregon and the other by a cohort affiliate in California). Another cohort member successfully advocated to change Maryland state policy so that incinerators could not qualify for state renewable energy tax credits. GAIA co-created a mini-documentary on another cohort member city, Breathing Free: Detroits Journey to Zero Waste, which launched in January 2025. As we wound down the Failing Incinerators Project, GAIA advanced new cohort work, seizing the energy of the Methane Moment to focus on organic waste management as a critical part of both zero waste and climate work. We supported frontline communities facing waste incineration proposals (including a new push from Canadas federal government) and questionable EV battery recycling facilities. We also raised concerns regarding proposed state and federal policies that could increase pollution or reduce oversight. 1731427 198175 7500 HOSTED PROGRAMS BREAK FREE FROM PLASTIC & URBAN MOVEMENT INNOVATION FUND:Break Free From Plastic Global: BFFP, a fiscally-sponsored project of GAIA, is aglobal movement envisioning a future free from plastic pollution. Launched inSeptember 2016, the movement has attracted more than 13,000 organizations and individuals worldwide to call for massive reductions in single-use plastics and push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis.Break Free From Plastic U.S. & Canada: GAIA continued as fiscal sponsor of the Break Free From Plastic movement of nearly 200 member organizations in the U.S. and Canada working across the plastics value chain for systemic change. This work includes challenging the petrochemical buildout, pushing for corporate accountability, promoting systemic solutions, building zero waste communities, and leveraging grassroots support to drive plastic pollution reduction policies at the local, state, and federal level. BFFP-U.S. & Canada has worked to shift the narrative about plastic, foster an enabling policy environment, and build a strong, intersectional, and resilient movement, ensuring connections between zero waste strategy and implementation and work addressing plastic pollution. BFFP-U.S. & Canada has sustained working groups focused on zero waste, state and federal policy, extended producer responsibility, petrochemicals and false solutions. Additionally, BFFP-U.S. & Canada has built significant capacity among regional members to work on the global plastics treaty, especially among impacted communities in the Gulf South and Appalachia. The Urban Movement Innovation Funds Convenings Program: GAIA served as host of UMIFsConvenings Program, which supported coordination of UMIF partner gatherings,provided administrative backstopping to enhance the focus of gatherings, andevaluated meetings for impact. 1316405 657000 INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL: GAIA worked with locally-based staff to directly coordinate regional work in Africa and Latin America and also provided support and collaboration to sister networks in the Asia/Pacific region and in Europe. Africa: Zero waste cities work took off in numerous cities across the continent, with technical assistance and regranting support from GAIA. We sustained regional working groups on climate and on plastics, as well as a Youth Task Force, recognizing the powerful role of youth in environmental movements. We successfully launched the African Journalists Network to provide a deep-dive conversation on a specific issue monthly to support informed reporting. We organized a series of webinars on zero waste cities, enabling practical information sharing between groups in various countries. Co-hosting the International Zero Waste Cities Conference in Tanzania allowed us to showcase successful implementation of solutions on the continent, as well as to learn from experts, practitioners, and policymakers worldwide. The development and publication of our Life Before Plastic report around traditional practices helped to advance the regional conversation about reuse.Latin America & the Caribbean: Regional work included multifaceted support for wastepicker organizing; anti-incineration efforts, including an August 2024 webinar addressing different types of waste burning as false solutions; and work addressing the waste trade and its harmful impact. We supported zero waste cities implementation, national zero waste alliances in multiple countries, and a Zero Waste Academy held in Ecuador in May 2024. Work to harness the energy of youth advocates included the first subregional gathering of zero waste youth in January 2025, bringing together youth from Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala. More than 40 member initiatives benefitted from regranting support. Work with journalists included a webinar on the plastic crisis in October 2024 in conjunction with an Argentinian media partner. Extensive public education was undertaken, including a free, public online course in Spanish addressing plastic pollution, organized in the summer of 2024 in conjunction with a prominent research hub. 1316405 657000 7181606 true true false true false false false false false false false false false true true true true false false true true true false true false false false true false true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false true 38 0 true 28 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 5 5 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false CA X Brieshen McKee 5108839490 1958 University Avenue Berkeley CA 94704 Brieshen McKee Fin. & Bus. Dir 40.00 0.00 X 141004 0 18716 Monica Wilson Sr Dir. Global Prg 40.00 0.00 129689 0 28197 Colleen Halley Resource Mob Dir 40.00 0.00 141418 0 12267 Chantey Andrews People & Cult Dir. 40.00 0.00 120650 0 26374 Christie Keith Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X 125385 0 17273 Melissa Aguallo BFFP US Coord. 40.00 0.00 123366 0 19276 Denaya Shorter Sr Dir. US&CAN Prg 40.00 0.00 132454 0 7003 Sue Chiang Co-President 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Ana Baptista Co-President 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Burr Tyler Secretary 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Jack Macy Treasurer 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Nazir Khan Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 913966 129106 7 false true false Von Hernandez 121 D Tuazon St Bgy Quezon Manila RP 1114 Project Coordinator 118196 Diatom Srvcs Shepherds Croft 18 Brighton UK BN1 5JF Project Coordinator 118898 Mirinda-Boon Kuo 39 Kensington Rd Summer Hill NSW AS Project Coordinator 124880 3 8190458 103040 8190458 Program service fees 900099 12200 12200 12200 28596 28596 0 0 9420 9420 9420 9420 0 0 0 0 Other revenue 900099 627 627 627 8241301 12200 38643 X 976500 976500 0 1256647 1256647 0 343421 108992 198694 35735 0 2193494 1671582 303378 218534 0 276174 199989 48360 27825 193471 130700 38964 23807 0 0 132132 132132 0 43458 43458 0 1953987 1922055 29157 2775 14292 13518 114 660 71498 61212 8353 1933 64658 29571 33077 2010 0 30595 18993 8398 3204 784431 781483 1844 1104 0 6386 3702 2684 0 0 0 8967 5820 1978 1169 Dues, license & service fees 10407 842 9565 0 8360518 7181606 816698 362214 2966485 1750027 0 979990 1689545 23558 1495 0 0 0 0 34064 61313 0 541759 1413103 0 0 0 461318 511321 5007174 5426804 736093 469725 448434 1204175 18244 67718 1202771 1741618 X 1023427 893018 2780976 2792168 3804403 3685186 5007174 5426804 -119217 X false true X true false X 6198713 4675226 7845915 8112078 8190458 35022390 0 0 6198713 4675226 7845915 8112078 8190458 35022390 6364453 28657937 42 132 12818 34193 48946 96131 0 5411 4447 750 2109 627 13344 35131865 162789 0.81570 0.75720 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false 39237 62316 101553 8258965 8360518 568026 142007 false 422085 476701 615521 568026 2082333 3123500 25589 28670 25589 101553 181401 105521 119175 153880 142007 520583 780875 19303 17138 26211 39237 101889 Part II-B, Line 1i - Other Activities Description Signed on to letters related to climate policy and waste prevention, waste management, recycling and composting. No specific initiations made on our part this year. Part IV - Additional Information Right of use - operating lease 69720 Tax credit receivable 441601 511321 Operating lease liability 67718 67718 X 8241301 8241301 8241301 8360518 8360518 8360518 Part X : FIN48 Footnote The Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board have determined that the Organization is exempt from federal and state income taxes under IRC 501(c)(3) and California RTC 23701(d). The Organization has evaluated its current tax positions as of March 31, 2025 and is not aware of any significant uncertain tax positions for which a reserve would be necessary. The Organizations tax returns are generally subject to examination by federal and state taxing authorities for three and four years, respectively, after they are filed. true East Asia & Pacific 0 9 Program services; grants Zero waste support 983038 Europe 0 11 Program services; grants Zero waste support 300057 South America 0 56 Program services; grants Zero waste support 644286 South Asia 0 4 Program services Zero waste support 87719 Sub Saharan Africa 0 32 Program services; grants Zero waste support 760845 Central America & Caribbean 0 5 Program services Zero waste support 32482 Middle East & North Africa 0 6 Program services Zero waste support 66318 Mexico & Canada (No. America) 0 6 Program services; grants Zero waste support 203017 129 129 3077762 3077762 E Asia Pacific Zero waste support 563647 Wire Europe Zero waste support 155000 Wire Mexico & Canada Zero waste support 25000 Wire North Africa Zero waste support 20000 Wire South America Zero waste support 90000 Wire Sub-Saharan Afr Zero waste support 403000 Wire 19 false false false false false false Part I, Line 2 - Grantmakers Explanation For Monitoring Use of Funds Outside US GAIA will establish an appropriate grant agreement with the member or organization based on program activities and nature of work. Grantees may be required to submit interim mid-year reports as well as final reports to ensure that the funds were expended for the purposes approved by the Board. In addition, the senior director for global programs and other team directors monitor the grantees closely throughout the year. This is accomplished through regular email communication, conference calls and site visits. X X true Leslie Ann Minot 3230 S BuffaloDr Ste107-6 Las Vegas NV 89117 Grant writing false 36878 Kai Aprill-Tomlin 12515 Phinney Ave N Seattle WA 98133 Grantwriting false 6580 43458 CA true BLARG 184 Main Street Port Washington NY 11050 113556686 501c3 75000 0 Research, education & support Breathe Free Detroit 4605 Cass Ave 2nd Floor Detroit MI 48201 382971968 501c3 72800 0 Research, education, and organizing Californians Against Waste Fd 921 11Th Street Suite 502 Sacramento CA 95814 680032326 510c3 62500 0 Research, education, & support CURE 117 South 1st St Montevideo MN 56265 311693392 501c3 62500 0 Research, education & support Environmental Integrity Prjct 888 17th Street NW Ste 810 Washington DC 20006 201326922 501c3 105000 0 Research, education & support EYCEJ 2317 S Atlantic Blvd Commerce CA 90040 465685097 501c3 81200 0 Research, education, and organizing GreenLatinos 1919 14th Street Suite 700 Boulder CO 80302 263386082 501c3 75000 0 Research, education & support Ironbound Community Corp 317 Elm St Newark NJ 07105 221916086 501c3 67200 0 Research, education, and organizing JOIN for Clean Air 2426 Chippewa Street New Orleans LA 70130 883360763 501c3 20000 0 Research, education & support MNEJT 2720 E 22nd St Minneapolis MN 55406 475090761 501c3 72800 0 Research, education, and organizing Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust 44 Bedson Road Cranston RI 02910 822650017 501c3 25000 0 Research, education & support SBCLT 10 16th Ave 19762 Baltimore MD 21230 273253917 501c3 145000 0 Research, education & support Slingshot 62 Summer St Boston MA 02110 046149986 501c3 25000 0 Research, education & support Valley Improvement Project PO Box 4214 Modesto CA 95352 954116679 501c3 62500 0 Research, education & support Zero Waste Detroit 2937 E Grand Blvd Detroit MI 48202 300038647 501c3 25000 0 Research, education & support 15 0 Grantmaker's Description of How Grants are Used The Board of Directors, with guidance from programmatic staff, will approve proposed grants based on annual budget. GAIA will establish an appropriate grant agreement with the member or organization based on program activities and nature of work. Grantees will submit nonprofit equivalency documents and may be required to submit interim mid-year reports as well as final reports to ensure that the funds were expended for the purposes approved by the Board. In addition, the US program coordinator monitors the grantees closely throughout the year. This is accomplished through regular email communication, conference calls and site visits. X X X false false false false false false false false false Brieshen McKee Fin. & Bus. Dir 141004 18716 159720 Colleen Halley Resource Mob Dir 141418 12267 153685 Monica Wilson Sr Dir. Global Prg 129689 28197 157886 X 1 103040 FMV false false false Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The Executive Director and Financial Director review the 990s and contact the CPA with any questions. The 990 is sent to the Board Finance Committee for review and then shared with the full Board. All parties must sign off on it before it is submitted for final processing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c Requiring annual COI forms to be completed as well as checking in regularly in Board meetings to request updates on organizational affiliations. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a Board Member Officers are not compensated. Salaries of all employees, including the Executive Director, are evaluated based on comparability data and are generally at the mid range for similar non-profit positions. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15b Board Member Officers are not compensated. Salaries of all employees, including the Executive Director, are evaluated based on comparability data and are generally at the mid range for similar non-profit positions. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 These documents are available upon written or verbal request.