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Origami USA Inc

EIN 13-3051447 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SHARE THE JOY AND APPRECIATION OF PAPERFOLDING, PRESERVE ITS HISTORY, NURTURE ITS GROWTH, BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY AMONG PAPERFOLDERS.

Income
$337,288
Spending
$339,943
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
2
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$30,000, president

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $176,616 spent. THE ANNUAL ORIGAMIUSA CONVENTION IS A UNIQUE EVENT BRINGING TOGETHER PAPERFOLDERS AND ORIGAMI ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE EVENT INCLUDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND CLASSES TO LEARN MODELS AND TECHNIQUES, AS WELL AS LECTURES ABOUT THE USES OF ORIGAMI. WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS OF ORIGAMI BOOKS TEACH MANY OF THESE CLASSES. ALL TEACHERS ARE ATTENDEES WHO ARE VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ORIGAMI. THE CONVENTION ALSO INCLUDES A WORLD-CLASS EXHIBITION CREATED FROM ORIGAMI MODELS PROVIDED BY THE ATTENDEES. THIS EXHIBITION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, PROVIDING VISITORS AND RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK CITY WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE EXTRAORDINARY WORKS OF ART. HERE IS A LINK TO THE CONVENTION SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE. HTTPS://ORIGAMIUSA.ORG/CONVENTIONS.
  2. ORIGAMIUSA PRODUCES TWO REGULAR PUBLICATIONS FOR ITS MEMBERS. ONE IS A 32 -PAGE GLOSSY PRINT MAGAZINE THAT COMES OUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR CALLED THE PAPER. THE OTHER IS AN ONLINE MAGAZINE CALLED THE FOLD, WHICH PRODUCES SIX ISSUES A YEAR. THE CONTENT OF THESE PUBLICATIONS IS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT. BOTH PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE ARTICLES OF INTEREST TO THE ORIGAMI COMMUNITY INCLUDING THE USES OF ORIGAMI IN MATH, SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, THERAPY AND EDUCATION. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT ORIGAMI EXHIBITS IN ART MUSEUMS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES, THERAPEUTIC BREAKTHROUGHS, AND STORIES OF ORIGAMI GATHERINGS AROUND THE WORLD. BOTH PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONAL ORIGAMI DIAGRAMS AND THE FOLD ALSO INCLUDES INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS.
  3. ORIGAMIUSA IS HOUSED AUTONOMOUSLY IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY(AMNH). OUR OFFICE IN THE MUSEUM HOUSES A LARGE LIBRARY OF ORIGAMI BOOKS. WE REGULARLY HOLD IN-PERSON ORIGAMI CLASSES (CALLED SPECIAL SESSIONS) AT THE AMNH, AS WELL AS, FREE FOLDING SESSIONS (FOLDING SUNDAYS) FOR OUR MEMBERS. AS PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMNH ORIGAMIUSA PRODUCES A FABULOUS HOLIDAY TREE THAT IS DECORATED WITH ORIGAMI MODELS AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR SEVEN WEEKS. WE ALSO HOLD REGULAR ONLINE CLASSES CALLED ORIGAMI CONNECT. WE ALSO OCCASIONALLY HOLD OTHER ONLINE EVENTS SUCH AS FOLDFEST IN APRIL AND WORLD ORIGAMI DAYS (OCT. 24 - NOV. 11). ORIGAMIUSA HAS AN EXTENSIVE WEBSITE THAT INCLUDES DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL OUR ACTIVITIES: HTTP://ORIGAMIUSA.ORG.
  4. $37,867 spent. SUPPLY CENTER EXPENSES

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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 1981.

    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 November 4, 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.