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African Center for Economic Transformation

EIN 11-3803281 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PROVIDE RESEARCH, POLICY ADVISE, AND INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING FOR AFRICAN COUNTRIES TO DEVELOP THIER ECOMONOMIES, REDUCE POVERTY, AND IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS FOR ALL AFRICANS. WE ARE THE PRE-EMINENT AFRICAN ORGINAZATION ADVANCING AFRICAN SOLUTIONS TO AFRICAN TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGES

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$302,616, executive vice president

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

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 89% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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, 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 (3)
  1. $1.9 million spent. PAN-AFRICAN COALITION FOR TRANSFORMATION (PACT) AFRICAS IMPRESSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH SINCE THE MID-1990S POWERED PRIMARILY FROM MACROECONIMIC REFORMS, BETTER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS, AND HIGH COMMODITY PRICES WILL NOT BY ITSELF SUSTAIN DEVELOPMENT ON THE CONTINENT
  2. $1.3 million spent. TRANSFORMATION = GROWTH + DEPTH SINCE THE MIN-1990S, MANY AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE SEEN STEADY ECONOMIC GROWTH BUT HAVE STRUGGLED TO LEVERAGE THAT GROWTH INTO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AND PLANS. AFRICAN COUNTRIES NEED GROWTH WITH DEPTH, WHICH IS HOW ACET ENCAPSULATES THE MUTIDIMENTSIONAL PROCESS OF ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION INTO A PRACTICAL POLICY AGENDA
  3. $1.0 million spent. STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENTS WITH INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES IN ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT. THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY DEMAND DRIVEN ADVISORY ACTIVITIES TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF GOVERNMENTS IN THE FINANCIAL PLANNING, ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONS. OUR OBJECTIVE HERE HAS BEEN TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAPACITY OF POLICYMAKERS IN THESE AREAS AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES FROM IN AND OUTSIDE AFRICA

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 2025.

    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 February 2008.

    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.