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Valentino Achak Deng Foundation

EIN 20-5961736 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE VALENTINO ACHAK DENG FOUNDATION (VAD) IS A US-BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING TO INCREASE ACCESS TO EDUCATION IN POST-CONFLICT SOUTH SUDAN BY CONSTRUCTING AND OPERATING SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, TEACHER-TRAINING INSTITUTES, AND COMMUNITY (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) CENTERS. BEYOND TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM EDUCATION, THE FOUNDATION OFFERS A VARIETY OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE INCLUDING: STUDENT GOVERNMENT, DRAMA AND DEBATE CLUBS, COMPETITIVE SPORTS PROGRAMS, AND SOCIAL ACTION GROUPS.

Income
$368,263
Spending
$403,021
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$93,750, executive director/co-founder

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 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

    6 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 (1)
  1. $289,486 spent. IN 2024, THE VAD FOUNDATION SPONSORED A TOTAL OF 381 GIRLS ENROLLED IN ITS ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. KNOWN AS VADF GIRL SCHOLARS, THE GROUP INCLUDES 189 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND 192 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING IN A SECURE, SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT CORNERSTONES VISION ACADEMY IN AWEIL, NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL STATE. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION SPONSORED 15 LEARNERS PURSUING VOCATIONAL TRAINING AT THE AFFILIATED DON BOSCO CENTER IN WAU, WESTERN BAHR EL GHAZAL. THESE STUDENTS ARE TRAINING IN ESSENTIAL FIELDS SUCH AS CARPENTRY, MASONRY, MECHANICS, ELECTRICAL WORK, AND ICT. ALL VOCATIONAL LEARNERS ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUATE IN DECEMBER 2025, AFTER WHICH SOME WILL BE ENGAGED BY THE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT ITS EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS.

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 October 2008.

    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.

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