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Asylum Access

EIN 20-3642040 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ASYLUM ACCESS'S MISSION IS TO MAKE HUMAN RIGHTS A REALITY FOR REFUGEES. WE ENVISION A WORLD IN WHICH REFUGEES CAN LIVE SAFELY, MOVE FREELY, ATTEND SCHOOL, WORK AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$8.4 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
14
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$181,080, cfo, interim co-ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 124% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 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

    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 June 30, 2025, 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. $3.8 million spent. RESOURCING REFUGEE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE:THE RESOURCING REFUGEE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE, CONVENED BY ASYLUM ACCESS, AIMS TO TRANSFER POWER, OWNERSHIP AND RESOURCES WHERE THEY BELONG: WITH REFUGEES THEMSELVES. BY ESTABLISHING THE FIRST GRANTMAKING FUND MANAGED BY AND FOR REFUGEES, OUR INITIATIVE WILL HELP UNLOCK $40 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR REFUGEE-LED ORGANIZATIONS TO SCALE THEIR OPERATIONS AND PURSUE ACCESS TO DOCUMENTATION, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND FOOD SECURITY.
  2. $1.7 million spent. ASYLUM ACCESS MEXICO: ASYLUM ACCESS MEXICO (AAMX) IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF LEGAL SERVICES TO FORCIBLY DISPLACED COMMUNITIES IN MEXICO. WE REACH APPROXIMATELY 20,000 FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR DIRECT LEGAL, OUTREACH AND INTEGRATION SERVICES IN SIX DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THIS ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY THE MOST MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, THEIR NEEDS, AND PRIORITIES AT KEY POINTS ALONG THE MIGRATION ROUTES. OUR LEGAL AND COMMUNITY ADVISORS HELP FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE NAVIGATE THE ASYLUM PROCESS AND ACCESS THEIR RIGHTS TO EMPLOYMENT, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION, AND THEIR RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM DETENTION. AAMX ALSO HAS STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH VARIOUS CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS. WE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN COORDINATION MECHANISMS WITH AUTHORITIES. WE HAVE THE REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND KNOW-HOW TO ELABORATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GOOD PRACTICES, AND TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO MODERNIZE AND UPDATE THE PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES IN MATTERS OF INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FOR FORCIBLY DISPLACED COMMUNITIES.
  3. $704,895 spent. ASYLUM ACCESS THAILAND: ASYLUM ACCESS THAILAND IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING FRIENDLY, EFFECTIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO THE VARIOUS FORCIBLY DISPLACED COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE IN THAILAND. WE HELP FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX ASYLUM PROCESS AND CONNECT THEM TO FURTHER ASSISTANCE FROM LOCAL PARTNERS. OUR TEAM ALSO SUPPORTS FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE WITH TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO START THEIR OWN INITIATIVES TO BENEFIT AND STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ASYLUM ACCESS THAILAND ALSO WORKS IN CLOSE COALITION WITH OTHER THAI AND REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, WE COLLECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES IN THAI LAW AND POLICY THAT WILL ALLOW FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LIVE OPENLY, MOVE FREELY, REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR NEW COMMUNITIES.
  4. $702,290 spent. ASYLUM ACCESS MALAYSIA: ASYLUM ACCESS MALAYSIA'S REFUGEE LEGAL AID PROGRAM ASSISTS FORCIBLY DISPLACED COMMUNITIES TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE UNHCR REFUGEE STATUS DETERMINATION PROCESS (RSD), THEREBY IMPROVING THEIR CHANCES OF LIVING SAFELY AND MOVING FREELY IN MALAYSIA. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, WE OFFER KNOW-YOUR-OPTIONS WORKSHOPS TO PROVIDE BASIC LEGAL AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO HELP REFUGEES NAVIGATE THE RSD PROCESS AND AVAIL THEMSELVES OF OTHER LEGAL PROTECTIONS THAT MAY PREVENT DETENTION AND HELP THEM ADJUST TO LIFE IN MALAYSIA. WE ALSO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FORCIBLY DISPLACED COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE ACCESS TO WORK RIGHTS EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A DIFFICULT LEGAL ENVIRONMENT. WE ADDRESS UNFAIR WORK PRACTICES THROUGH MEDIATION WITH EMPLOYERS AND FILING CASES WITH THE LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL COURTS.
  5. $654,976 spent. GLOBAL SYSTEMS CHANGE: ASYLUM ACCESS WORKS TO TRANSFORM THE GLOBAL SYSTEM OF DISPLACEMENT RESPONSE SO IT PRIORITIZES THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE AND RECOGNIZES THEIR POWER. WE ADVOCATE FOR THESE CHANGES BY BUILDING AND SUPPORTING PARTNERSHIPS THAT HELP TRANSFORM THE REFUGEE RESPONSE SECTOR INTO ONE THAT IS TRANSPARENT, ACCOUNTABLE, EQUITABLE AND THAT ULTIMATELY LEADS TO GREATER RESPECT, PROTECTION, AND PROMOTION OF REFUGEES' HUMAN RIGHTS. WE WORK TOGETHER TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS, INCLUDING REFUGEE-LED ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD AS WE: (1) ENGAGE WITH POWERFUL PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS UNHCR, WORLD BANK, AND GOVERNMENTS WITH GLOBAL INFLUENCE TO MAKE THEM MORE INCLUSIVE AND PRIORITIZE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LAWS AND PRACTICES IN REFUGEE HOSTING COUNTRIES, (2) CATALYZE CAMPAIGNS TOWARDS GREATER EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE REFUGEE RESPONSE SECTOR, (3) PARTNER WITH LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND REFUGEE-LED ORGANIZATIONS IN STRATEGIC COUNTRIES FOR CAPACITY BRIDGING INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN OUR COLLECTIVE PURSUIT OF REFUGEE HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE GROUND, AND (4) DEMAND AND SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF REFUGEE-LED ORGANIZATIONS IN DISPLACEMENT RESPONSE DECISION-MAKING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 September 2006.

    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.