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Asian American Resource Workshop Inc

EIN 04-2707980 · Dorchester, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING FOR PAN-ASIAN COMMUNITIES IN GREATER BOSTON.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
13
Volunteers
200

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 August 31, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. AARW ORGANIZES PAN-ASIAN COMMUNITIES AROUND ISSUES OF DISPLACEMENT AND SUPPORTS GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. THIS INCLUDES PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH ASIAN YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, NARRATIVE STRATEGY PROJECTS AND THE BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL, WORKSHOPS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT, SPACES FOR MEMBERS TO BUILD THEIR ORGANIZING SKILLS AND RESPOND TO TIMELY ISSUES WITHIN THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND WORKING DIRECTLY WITH ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO SPEAK VIETNAMESE, AROUND ISSUES OF HOUSING AND IMMIGRATION. HERE IS A LIST OF THE PROGRAMS WE SUPPORT:-DORCHESTER ORGANIZING AND TRAINING INITIATIVE: DOT-I IS AN INNOVATIVE ORGANIZING SPACE FOR VIETNAMESE AMERICAN YOUNG ADULTS WHO LIVE IN DORCHESTER. FELLOWS ARE WORKING ON PROJECTS AROUND HOUSING, IMMIGRATION, AND EDUCATION EQUITY.-DORCHESTER TENANT ORGANIZING & DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT: AARW IS GROWING BASE-BUILDING OF WORKING-CLASS VIETNAMESE TENANTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ORGANIZE WITHIN A MULTIRACIAL COMMUNITY PUSHING BACK AGAINST UNAFFORDABLE AND SPECULATIVE DEVELOPMENT BY SUPPORTING POLICY AND SOLUTIONS SUCH AS TENANT PROTECTIONS TO STABILIZE HOUSING.-SOUTHEAST ASIAN DEPORTATION DEFENSE PROJECT: WE SUPPORT SOUTHEAST ASIAN FAMILIES (MOSTLY CAMBODIAN AND VIETNAMESE) IMPACTED BY DEPORTATION THROUGH CASE SUPPORT, ORGANIZING, AN ACTIVE SUPPORT COMMITTEE, AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY REFORMS ON THE LOCAL, STATEWIDE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. -GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS - AARW HOSTS MONTHLY GENERAL MEMBER MEETINGS TO DEVELOP THE SHARED POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF OUR MEMBERS, AND CULTIVATE THE ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT OUR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT ORGANIZING EFFORTS.-ACTIVIST TRAINING INSTITUTE: ATI IS A PAN-ASIAN INTENSIVE ORGANIZING TRAINING SPACE BUILDING THE SKILLS AND CAPACITY OF ASIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZERS IN GREATER BOSTON TO ORGANIZE.-NARRATIVE STRATEGY TEAM: THIS WORK HIGHLIGHTS OUR MEMBERS' STORIES IN THE SERVICE OF ORGANIZING CAMPAIGNS. MEMBERS SUBMIT STORIES ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THEMES LIKE IMMIGRATION OR HOUSING, WHICH PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR CREATIVITY AND LIFTS UP MARGINALIZED VOICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE WORKING ON A PODCAST, ZINE, AND OTHER STORYTELLING CIRCLES.-C-SALT: OUR NEW CAMBRIDGE & SOMERVILLE SOUTH ASIAN LEADERSHIP TRAINING (C-SALT) PROGRAM HAS COMPLETED THREE COHORTS OF SOUTH ASIAN YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS FROM CAMBRIDGE AND SOMERVILLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH ORGANIZING TRAINING AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S CAMPAIGN WORK. -RAISE BOSTON: GIVEN THE FACT THAT 1/3 OF THE UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION IN MA IDENTIFY AS ASIAN, WE SEE OUR GROWING WORK WITH THE UNDOCUMENTED ASIAN COMMUNITY AS CRITICAL. RAISE BOSTON IS A SPACE FOR YOUNG UNDOCUMENTED AAPI COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER, BUILD A BASE, AND PUSH FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE. ACROSS OUR PROGRAMS WE ORGANIZE AGAINST DISPLACEMENT IN ALL ITS FORMS. WE FOCUS ON ORGANIZING AROUND HOUSING JUSTICE, DEPORTATION DEFENSE AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT, WHILE SUPPORTING OTHER ISSUES OF RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1980.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.