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Small Enterprise Assistance Funds

EIN 13-3535334 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEAF'S MISSION IS IMPROVING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH ENTREPRENEUR-LED DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 35%
Employees
17
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$338,930, 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 88% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 11 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $6.0 million spent. THE SMALL ENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE FUNDS ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2015 ENTERED INTO A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR $3,898,099 WITH THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO ESTABLISH AN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY (IM) TO SUPPORT THE START- UP INVESTMENT ECOSYSTEM IN MOROCCO. AS PART OF THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, SEAF AGREED TO ESTABLISH AN IM AS A NEW WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF SEAF AND USE THE GRANT FUNDS TO MAKE PERIODIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IM IN EXCHANGE FOR BEING ISSUED EQUITY INTERESTS IN THE IM.
  2. COLOMBIA AGRIBUSINESS : THE SMALL ENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE FUNDS ON MARCH 19TH, 2015 WAS AWARDED A $2,795,500 FROM THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COLOMBIA MISSION TO ESTABLISH AN AGRIBUSINESS FUND WITH THE GOAL OF REALIZING SUSTAINABLE IMPACT THROUGH INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
  3. TANZANIA - ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2014, SEAF SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH USDA FOR THE FOOD FOR PROGRESS GRANT, FOCUSED ON THE COUNTRY OF TANZANIA. SEAF RECEIVED FUNDS THROUGH CCC AND MONETIZATION PROCEEDS. DURING 2015, SEAF MONETIZED THE FIRST 12,000 MT OF WHEAT. DURING 2016, SEAF MONETIZED 11,000 MT OF WHEAT. DURING 2017, SEAF MADE INVESTMENTS OF $2,000,000 INTO PORTFOLIO COMPANIES IN THE TANZANIA REGION. DURING 2019, SEAF MADE INVESTMENTS OF $1,150,000 INTO PORTFOLIO COMPANIES IN THE TANZANIA REGION. THE TOTAL CARRYING VALUE OF THE INVESTMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND 2022 WAS $725,081 AND $800,261 RESPECTIVELY.
  4. INDIA AGRIBUSINESS FUND--SEAF INDIA AGRIBUSINESS INTERNATIONAL FUND (THE "INT'L FUND") WAS INCORPORATED ON 05 JUNE 2009 AND DOMICILED IN MAURITIUS. IN 2013, THE INTERNATIONAL FUND HAD ITS FINAL CLOSING WITH TOTAL COMMITMENTS OF $26,550,000 FROM SEVEN MEMBERS. THE INVESTMENT MANAGER OF THE INT'L FUND IS SEAF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY (SIMC), A PRIVATE COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF MAURITIUS ON JUNE 5, 2009 AND IS 100% OWNED BY SEAF. THE SEAF INDIA AGRIBUSINESS FUND (THE DOMESTIC FUND) IS STRUCTURED AS A SCHEME OF THE SEAF INDIA INVESTMENT TRUST, A CONTRIBUTORY TRUST UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE TRUSTS ACT, 1882, WHEREIN IL&FS TRUST COMPANY LIMITED, A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT (1956), IS ACTING AS THE TRUSTEE OF THE TRUST. THE TRUSTEE HAS APPOINTED THE DOMESTIC FUND'S INVESTMENT MANAGER TO BE SEAF INDIA INVESTMENT ADVISORS PRIVATE LIMITED (IAC), AN INDIAN ENTITY ESTABLISHED BY SEAF.THE SMALL ENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE FUNDS ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2019 WAS AWARDED A $999,966 GRANT FROM THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO PROMOTE THE FINTECH SECTOR IN MOROCCO AND TUNISIA BY TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS. THE PROJECT IS A 3 YEAR PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES FOUR OBJECTIVES: 1) MOROCCAN AND TUNISIAN START-UPS INCREASE THEIR EXPERTISE IN MANAGEMENT AND SCALING UP 2) MOROCCAN AND TUNISIAN START-UPS GAIN ACCESS TO MARKETS THROUGH MATCHMAKING AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH U.S MARKETS. 3) MOROCCAN AND TUNISIAN START-UPS GAIN ACCESS TO FUNDING AND INVESTORS BY ENGAGING THE U.S PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL AS MENA PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND INVESTORS TO POTENTIALLY ADDRESS AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO ENHANCE THE POSITION OF MOROCCAN AND TUNISIAN FINTECH SECTORS FOR INVESTMENT 4) U.S AND LOCAL PRIVATE SECTORS GAIN ACCESS TO TALENT OF MOROCCAN AND TUNISIAN START-UPS USING ACADEMIC ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS.

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 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 2024.

    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 August 1990.

    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.