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Congo Initiative USA Inc

EIN 20-3467419 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CONGO INITIATIVE USA IS TO PROMOTE CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP FORMATION, AND COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC). THIS MISSION WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY, AMONG OTHER MEANS, PROVIDING FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL SUPPORT FOR CONGO INITIATIVE - UNIVERSITE CHRETIENNE BILINGUE DU CONGO, AN EDUCATION INSTITUTION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE DRC.

Income
$912,424
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
5
Volunteers
2

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $155,091 spent. ACCOMPLISHMENT 1 - EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION ACCOMPLISHMENT INCLUDES: - PROVIDING FORMAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO NURTURE ETHICAL LEADERS TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE CONGOLESE SOCIETY. - PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF TO EQUIP THEM WITH PEDAGOGICAL SKILLS. - PROVIDING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR CONGO'S YOUNGEST LEARNERS. - PROMOTE JUSTICE AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN CONGO VIA PROFESIONAL INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP CONSELING, PARENTING SEMINARS, ETHNIC RECONCILIATION AND PEACEBUILDING ACTIVITIES, PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES, ECONONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MORE.
  2. $123 spent. ACCOMPLISHMENT 2 - FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ACCOMPLISHMENT INCLUDES: - DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN PROPERTY AND INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
  3. $12,600 spent. ACCOMPLISHMENT 3 - PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING ACCOMPLISHMENT INCLUDES: - PROVIDE AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIVITIES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT CONGO, AS WELL AS DEVELOP, STRENGTHEN, AND EXPAND PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS (UNIVERSITIES), FOUNDATIONS AND CHURCHES ACROSS THE WORLD. - THE ABOVE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY TEACHING OTHERS ON THE HISTORY AND CURRENT CONTEXT OF DR CONGO TO DEEPEN THEIR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LIVES OF CONGOLESE CHRISTIANS. STORIES, DATA COLLECTIONS, MONITORING AND EVALUATION REPORTS WILL ALL BE USED TO TEACH OTHERS AND RAISE AWARENESS.
  4. $738,089 spent. SUPPORTING SERVICES THROUGH MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ALONG WITH FUNDRAISING SERVICES.
  5. SUPPORTING SERVICES THROUGH MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ALONG WITH FUNDRAISING SERVICES.

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 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 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 March 2007.

    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.