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The Tandana Foundation Inc

EIN 20-4748423 · Spring Valley, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CREATING CROSS-CULTURAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND FUNDING FOR SMALL COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN HIGHLAND ECUADOR AND MALI'S DOGON COUNTRY.

Income
$928,725
Spending
$859,961
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
4
Volunteers
109
Highest pay
$55,000, senior operations 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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. $222,892 spent. TANDANA COORDINATED 10 VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN ECUADOR, WHICH ALLOWED 106 NORTH AMERICANS TO SHARE IN A CULTURAL EXCHANGE IN 7 RURAL COMMUNITIES IN ECUADOR WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THE LOCAL CULTURE. OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ALSO ALLOWED 3 NORTH AMERICANS TO HAVE A CULTURAL EXCHANGE OVER 120 TOTAL DAYS WITH ECUADORIANS AND TO PROVIDE ENGLISH LESSONS, SUPPORT LOCAL AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVES, SUPPORT OUR SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM, AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
  2. $391,773 spent. TANDANA PROVIDED FUNDING FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN MALI: PUBLISHING THE FIRST STORYBOOK EVER IN THE TOMMOSO LANGUAGE, THE HYENA, THE HARE, AND THE BAOBAB AND RELEASED IT IN THE TOMMOGUIN COMMUNITY AS WELL AS IN THE UNITED STATES; FACILITATING WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS FOR 100 WOMEN; TOMMO SO LITERACY PROGRAM FOR 341 WOMEN; STUDENT MOTHERS PROGRAM FOR 10 YOUNG MOTHERS; SUPPORT FOR 175 INTERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN TO ATTEND SCHOOL IN BANDIAGARA INCLUDING SUPPLEMENTAL CLASSES TO HELP THEM CATCH UP; SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN ANDJINE, KANSONGO, AND SOL-DOGON; TRAINING FOR 10 NEW LITERACY INSTRUCTORS; FOOD SUPPORT FOR 175 INTERNALLY DISPLACED FAMILIES IN BANDIAGARA SO THEIR CHILDREN CAN ATTEND SCHOOL; 7 NEW WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS RECEIVED STARTUP FUNDING TO START BUSINESSES IN MARKET GARDENING, MAKING SEASONING BALLS, MAKING COTTON INTO CLOTH, AND TRANSFORMING LOCAL PRODUCTS FOR SALE; 25 INTERNALLY DISPLACED PARENTS STARTED INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES IN BANDIAGARA WITH TANDANA SUPPORT; CONSTRUCTION OF A WELL IN BANDIAGARA, THAT SERVES MANY OF THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED FAMILIES WHO HAVE MOVED TO THE TOWN; EXPANSION OF 15 PONDS TO CONSERVE WATER FROM THE RAINY SEASON FOR USE FOR LIVESTOCK AND MARKET GARDENING; ONE-DAY BASIC MEDICAL CLINICS IN 32 COMMUNITIES; SUPPORT FOR THE OLOUGUELEMO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION, WHICH LED THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS: PLANTED 1,630 TREES IN A REFORESTATION CAMPAIGN; BUILT 72,122 METERS WORTH OF STONE CONTOUR LINES TO PREVENT EROSION AND RETAIN WATER IN THE SOIL; PRACTICED ASSISTED NATURAL REGENERATION ON 25,890 TREES; MADE 764 IMPROVED COOKSTOVES; EXPANDED 15 PONDS, WHICH MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO GARDEN AND TO RAISE LIVESTOCK; CONTINUED TO PROTECT 1,222 HECTARES OF FOREST; HELD A COMPETITION FOR BEST ASSISTED NATURAL REGENERATION IN THE FIELDS.IN ECUADOR, TANDANA SUPPORTED PROJECTS THAT INCLUDED: CONSTRUCTION OF STADIUM-STYLE SEATING AT THE SOCCER FIELD IN AGUALONGO; RENOVATION OF A BATHROOM AT THE SCHOOL IN TANGAL; PAINTING 3 CLASSROOMS AT THE SCHOOL IN CARABUELA; PAINTING THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE MUENALA COMMUNITY CENTER AND INSTALLATION OF WINDOWS;PUBLISHING A NEW EDITION OF JUANITA, THE COLORFUL BUTTERFLY, A TALE IN KICHWA, SPANISH, AND ENGLISH; SUPPORTING A MUSIC AND ART TEACHER AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN URKUSIKI; PAINTING 3 MURALS AT THE SCHOOL IN CARABUELA; PAINTING A MURAL AT THE SCHOOL IN QUICHINCHE; SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR 25 STUDENTS; PLANTING A VEGETABLE GARDEN AND FRUIT TREES AT THE SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY OF TANGAL; COMPLETION OF THE POTABLE WATER SYSTEM IN INGUINCHO; INSTALLATION OF IRRIGATION WATER PIPES AND A RESERVOIR TO PROVIDE WATER FOR INCOME GENERATING PROJECTS SUCH AS GROWING FRUIT AND FARMING TILAPIA IN YAMBIRO; THE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION IN YAMBIRO PARTICIPATED IN BASIC TRAINING IN HOW TO RUN SMALL BUSINESSES ON AN ONGOING BASIS; THE SCHOOL IN TANGAL STARTED AN INCOME GENERATING PROJECT RAISING AND SELLING GUINEA PIGS; ONE-DAY MEDICAL CLINICS IN 5 COMMUNITIES, ONE-DAY DENTAL CLINIC IN 1 COMMUNITY; COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PROGRAM WHICH LED TO THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: 742 PATIENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT WITH MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP CARE; 16 PATIENTS RECEIVED GLASSES; 11 PATIENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT WITH VISION FOLLOW-UP CARE; 4 PATIENTS RECEIVED HEARING AIDS; 4 PATIENTS ACCESSED SURGERIES; 3 MONTHS' SUPPLY OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS WERE DELIVERED TO 3 ADULTS; 2 MONTHS' SUPPLY OF BABY FORMULA WAS DELIVERED TO 1 INFANT; 1 PATIENT RECEIVED A PROSTHETIC EYE.
  3. $97,243 spent. TANDANA PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 98 RURAL ECUADORIAN STUDENTS, WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO ATTEND SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND FOR 20 RURAL ECUADORIAN STUDENTS TO ATTEND UNIVERSITY. WE PROVIDED BOOKS, SUPPLIES, UNIFORMS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, INTERNET, AND OTHER FEES. TANDANA ALSO SUPPORTED THE DR. ASH B. VARMA, M.D. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN MALI WITH 29 STUDENTS STUDYING PROFESSIONS THAT ARE NEEDED IN THEIR 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

  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 December 2006.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.