Palms for Life Fund Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ADVOCATE FOR AND SUPPORT THE CREATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO EDUCATION, FOOD, WATER AND SANITATION FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA AND ASIA. WE OPERATE FROM A BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE ACCESS TO SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD, WATER, SANITATION AND EDUCATION IS A RIGHT NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE.
- Income
- $5.3 million
- Spending
- $5.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $153,200, executive director
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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 72% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $5.1 million spent. PALMS FOR LIFE FUND (PFLF) IS INVESTING IN SOUTHERN AFRICA TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH, NUTRITION, WATER AND SANITATION, FOR THE ADVANCEMENT, PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF MARGINALISED AND VULNERABLE SAN AND KHOE COMMUNITIES PFLF USES A RESULTS-DRIVEN, HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.PFLF OPERATES IN ANGOLA, BOTSWANA, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND ZIMBABWE WHERE IT IMPLEMENTS A 3-YEAR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WITH GENEROUS FUNDING MAINLY BY PRIVATE FAMILY FOUNDATIONS. IN ALL COUNTRIES, PFLF WORKS CLOSELY WITH GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS, WHO ARE EXPERTS IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. PROJECTS ARE DIVERSE AND RANGE FROM VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO FOOD SECURITY, BUILDING OF EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF LOCAL CULTURES, LANGUAGES AND KNOWLEDGE. PFLF IS IMPACTING THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.