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Asian Americans for Equality Inc

EIN 13-3187792 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS AND OTHER SYSTEMATICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES BY CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, PROVIDING AN ARRAY OF MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FOSTERING GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Income
$16.0 million
Spending
$12.3 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
65
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$345,979, chairman/ed

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: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 51% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (3)
  1. $5.2 million spent. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT: IN THE PAST THREE DECADES, ASIAN AMERICANS FOR EQUALITY HAS DEVELOPED AND PRESERVED MORE THAN 1,200 AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS IN IMMIGRANT AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW YORK CITY. THE GOAL OF OUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WORK IS TO CREATE SAFE AND HEALTHY HOMES FOR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, PROVIIDNG THE HOUSING STABILITY THEY NEED TO THRIVE AND PRESERVING THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTER OF OUR DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS. AAFE'S PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAS A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF INNOVATION, PIONEERING VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BECOME CITYWIDE MODELS, INCLUDING THE USE OF LOW-INCOME TAX CREDITS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING COOPERATIVE PROGRAM AND THE POST 9/11 CHINATOWN/LOWER EAST SIDE PRESERVATION.
  2. $2.0 million spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: AAFE'S OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME INFORMED AND ENGAGED MEMBERS IN THEIR BUILDINGS, NEIGHBORHOODS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. EACH YEAR, THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ATTEND OUR MULTILINGUAL EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS. AAFE WORKS TO REGISTER VOTERS, ORGANIZE RENT STABILIZED TENANTS AND ENGAGE IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND LOW-INCOME SENIORS. MORE THAN 100 VOLUNTEERS HELP STAFF OUR FOOD PANTRIES, BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAYS AND MULTICULTURAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.
  3. $1.5 million spent. HOUSING, IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES: THE FOUNDATION OF AAFE'S COMMUNITY SERVICES IS A STRONG BELIEF THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOUSING, GOVERNMENT SAFETY NET PROGRAMS AND HEALTHCARE AND PATHWAYS TO U.S. CITIZENSHIP FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHILE MAINTAINING COMMUNITY CENTERS IN MANHATTAN'S CHINATOWN AND THE LOWER EAST SIDE AND FLUSHING AND JACKSON HEIGHTS IN QUEENS, OUR INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE CITYWIDE. AAFE PROVIDES MULTILINGUAL ASSISTANCE IN ENGLISH, CHINESE, SPANISH, AND KOREAN TO HELP PREVENT HOUSING DISPLACEMENT, CONNECT LOW-INCOME COMMUITY MEMBERS WITH ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICES AND IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE.

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 April 1986.

    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.