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Bihar-Jharkhand Association of North America

EIN 13-2887235 · Plainsboro, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceWeak39 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 15% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 73 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

The primary mission of BJANA is to carry out, promote and coordinate philanthropic, educational, charities, and voluntary activities serving physically and economically disadvantaged people in the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, and to integrate Indian communities across North America, who have origins in Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, through strong community organization,celebration of cultural festivals and promotion of Indian culture among younger generations in our communities.

Income
$591,453
Spending
$517,685
Spent on programs
15%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
100

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 276% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    15% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 73 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 39 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (2)
  1. $76,312 spent. ASHA (Support for Orphaned and Underprivileged Children, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India) BJANA supports ASHA in its mission to provide care, education, and essential resources for orphaned and underprivileged children. Through charitable contributions, BJANA helps improve childrens access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for a better future. This partnership reflects BJANAs commitment to child welfare and community development. Antar Jyoti Balika Vidyalaya (School for Visually Impaired Girls, Patna, Bihar, India) BJANA supports Antar Jyoti Balika Vidyalaya, a residential school in Patna dedicated to the education and empowerment of visually impaired girls.Its contributions help provide educational resources, residential care, and opportunities that promote independence and self-confidence. This initiative demonstrates BJANAs commitment to inclusive education and supporting individuals with disabilities. Community Hunger Relief and Educational Initiatives (United States) BJANA supports charitable and educational initiatives in the United States by contributing to the New Jersey Food Bank to help combat hunger and food insecurity, the Rutgers University Foundation to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)education, and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) to advance educational opportunities and student development. These contributions reflect BJANAs commitment to community welfare, academic excellence, and empowering future generations through philanthropy.
  2. In alignment with our core mission, BJANA successfully hosted its landmark Golden Jubilee Celebration, marking 50 years of dedicated community service, cultural preservation, and philanthropic impact since 1975. The milestone event united hundreds of families across North America, serving as a vital platform to promote the rich cultural heritage of Bihar and Jharkhand. Crucially, the celebration spearheaded fundraising initiatives dedicated to expanding healthcare access, educational scholarships,and rural development projects for underprivileged communities. Through this historic gathering, BJANA reinforced its 50-year legacy of community empowerment, civic engagement, and impactful social, cultural, and charitable initiatives.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 June 1978.

    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.