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Middle East Investment Initiative Inc

EIN 02-0760094 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MIDDLE EAST INVESTMENT INITIATIVE, INC. (MEII) STIMULATES SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND LONG-LASTING JOB CREATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA) BY DESIGNING AND DEPLOYING FINANCE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO BENEFIT ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ENTERPRISES (SME'S). FOUNDED WITH THE CONVICTION THAT THE PATH TO SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SUITABILITY IN THE MENA REGION REQUIRES A SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC BASE, MEII BREAKS FROM TRADITIONAL AID MODELS AND DESIGNS INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INITIATIVES THAT FOSTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND DIGNITY INSTEAD OF DEPENDENCY.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
3
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$350,957, executive vp

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.5 million spent. STIMULATING LOCAL LENDING: FOUNDED WITH THE CONVICTION THAT THE PATH TO SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SUITABILITY IN THE MENA REGION REQUIRES A SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC BASE, MEII BREAKS FROM TRADITIONAL AID MODELS AND DESIGNS INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INITIATIVES THAT FOSTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND DIGNITY INSTEAD OF DEPENDENCY. MEII HAS BEEN PROVING FOR OVER A DECADE THAT FORMAL AND INFORMAL SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (SMES) ARE BOTH CREDIT WORTHY AND NET CONTRIBUTORS TO JOB CREATION IN THE MENA REGION. STARTING IN PALESTINE IN 2008 AND EXPANDING TO TUNISIA IN 2015, MEII HAS FINANCED OVER $642 MILLION IN LENDING TO MORE THAN 4,773 BUSINESSES WITH A CUMULATIVE LOSS RATE OF LESS THAN 1.2%. OVER THIS PERIOD, AN ESTIMATED 42,267 JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED AND SUSTAINED IN THE REGION. MEII STIMULATES LOCAL BANK LENDING BY PROVIDING PARTNER BANKS WITH LOAN GUARANTEES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ASSESS THE VIABILITY OF THEIR SME CLIENTS AND STRUCTURE LOANS TO MEET BORROWER WORKING CAPITAL AND LONGER-TERM CAPITAL NEEDS.
  2. $535,351 spent. TAMWEELI: MEII ALSO FACILITATES SME ACCESS TO CAPITAL BY IMPROVING THE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY OF BUSINESSES AND MATCHING THEM TO AVAILABLE CAPITAL THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE ONLINE PLATFORM CALLED "TAMWEELI". STARTING IN PALESTINE IN 2014 AND EXPANDING TO JORDAN AND TUNISIA, MORE THAN 3,841 SMES RECEIVED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM MEII BUSINESS ADVISORS. THE TAMWEELI PLATFORM HARNESSES THE SECURITY, SPEED, AND SIMPLICITY OF THE INTERNET TO STREAMLINE THE FINANCING PROCESS FOR BOTH FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES & SMES, CONNECTING BUSINESSES WITH FUNDING FOR GROWTH AND HELPING LENDERS AND INVESTORS ASSESS OPPORTUNITIES. MORE THAN 13,550 SMES HAVE REGISTERED ON THE PLATFORM AND $25.5 MILLION IN LOANS HAVE BEEN FINANCED BY LOCAL FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES.
  3. $433,567 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. FOCUSING ON MSES IN JORDAN TO ENABLE THEM TO ACCESS FINANCE, MEII EXPANDS ITS ACCESS TO FINANCIAL LITERACY-BUILDING AND DIGITAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS, AND SUPPORTS SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE ADOPTION OF SOFTWARE AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FOR A2F FOR MSES. IN JORDAN, FOCUSES ON ACCESS TO FINANCE FOR MSMES. ON THE DEMAND SIDE, MEII ENHANCED FINANCIAL CAPACITIES OF MORE THAN 650 SMALL ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS 12 GOVERNORATES. ON THE SUPPLY SIDE, MEII HAS INCREASED THE DIALOGUE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE MFIS, BANKS AND LOAN GUARANTEE FACILITIES TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO FINANCE REACHING MORE THAN 170 BANKERS, MFI TEAMS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL SECTOR ACTORS. THROUGH ANOTHER DONOR-FUNDED PROGRAM, WE IMPROVED THE ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR GROWTH-ORIENTED MICRO, SMALL, AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (MSMES).
  4. $239,306 spent. MISSING MIDDLE MARKET GAP : DEVELOPING A REGIONAL RISK FUND TO FINANCE MISSING MIDDLE SMES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.