ICM Earns Candid’s 2025 Platinum Transparency Seal

What This Means for Our Donors and Partners

At ICM, we believe that transparency is not just about meeting requirements—it’s about building trust with our supporters and demonstrating our commitment to effective stewardship. The Platinum Seal is awarded to organizations that go beyond basic reporting to share comprehensive information about their programs, finances, leadership, and measurable goals.

Nonprofits can earn Candid’s Platinum Seal by sharing information about their mission, programs, financials, leadership, and goals and metrics. This highest level of recognition requires organizations to share at least one metric that demonstrates their impact.

For our donors, this recognition provides independent verification that ICM maintains the highest standards of transparency, allowing you to make informed giving decisions with confidence.

Our Commitment to Evidence-Based Impact

This recognition aligns perfectly with ICM’s longstanding commitment to rigorous research and data-driven approaches to fighting ultra-poverty in the Philippines.

Our research team collaborates with leading academics from prestigious institutions worldwide. A recent example is our partnership with Oxford University researchers on “Human Capital at Home,” a randomized evaluation of ICM’s Family Academy program. This study, led by Noam Angrist, Academic Director of the What Works Hub for Global Education, demonstrated substantial improvements in children’s numeracy and phonics skills—with impressive persistence over time.

Our research portfolio spans diverse areas, from early childhood education to economic empowerment. The “Randomizing Religion” study published with authors from Northwestern University was featured in both The Economist and The New York Times, while our “Developing Spiritual Impact Metrics” paper showcases our commitment to measuring holistic outcomes across various dimensions of our work.

“ICM’s dedication to evidence and transparency means their work is not just helping the direct recipients in their programs, but ultra-poor people in other parts of the Philippines, other parts of Asia, and other parts of the world.”

Dean Karlan

Professor of Economics and Finance, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and Co-Founder of Innovations for Poverty Action

Why Transparency Matters in Poverty Alleviation

For organizations fighting poverty, transparency is particularly crucial. When donors choose to support anti-poverty work, they need confidence that their contributions are making a measurable difference in people’s lives.

As reflected in our extensive research portfolio, which includes studies on topics ranging from community health worker programs to the socioeconomic impacts of our interventions, we take a business-minded approach to poverty alleviation. This approach emphasizes measurable outcomes and evidence-based interventions.

According to JD Bauman, Director of Effective Altruism for Christians:

“Among the Christian development charities, ICM stands out for its unparalleled dedication to rigorous evidence and openness regarding its outcomes. We are pleased to designate ICM as the top ‘Christian standout’ charity tackling poverty today. Ultimately, ICM is an outstanding option for donors seeking confidence that their donations have a meaningful impact on those in extreme poverty.” 

This commitment to rigorous evaluation ensures that we can confidently report to donors exactly how their support transforms the lives of the ultra-poor.

Looking Forward: Continuing Our Commitment

Receiving the Platinum Transparency Seal isn’t an endpoint—it’s a reminder of our ongoing commitment to accountability. As we continue to expand our work with ultra-poor communities, we remain dedicated to transparent operations and clear communication about both our successes and challenges.

We invite you to explore our research at ICM’s Research Page, where we openly share our findings, methodologies, and insights about effective poverty alleviation.

Join Us in Creating Measurable Change

As a supporter of ICM, you can be confident that your contributions are being used effectively and transparently to transform the lives of families living in ultra-poverty.

Whether you’re a longtime donor or considering supporting our work for the first time, we invite you to be part of creating measurable, lasting change in the lives of the ultra-poor.

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Make a donation today to support our evidence-based programs for families living in ultra-poverty.

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