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American Foreign Academic Research

EIN 20-8886728 · Cornelius, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EDUCATION ON ARCHEOLOGICAL MATTERS TO SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN. THE PRIMARY METHOD OF EDUCATION IS TRIPS TO VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN ARCHEOLOGICAL DIGS AND CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS.

Income
$599,760
Spending
$605,062
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
0

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: 52 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 87% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $131,461 spent. PORTUGAL TROIA, PORTUGAL, (LOCATED IN SOUTH CENTRAL PORTUGAL APPROX. 50 KM FROM LISBON) IS THE SITE OF A ROMAN FISH PROCESSING AND PRODUCTION CENTER DATING BACK TO THE 1ST CENTURY A.D. THE GOAL IS TO EXCAVATE AND INVESTIGATE THE FISH-SALTING WORKSHOP 4, A LARGE PRODUCTION UNIT WITH 11 VATS VISIBLE IN THREE ROWS, BUT ONLY SIX VATS ALREADY EXCAVATED. STUDENTS WILL BE TAUGHT ALL THE TASKS CONCERNING THE EXCAVATION AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCOVERY AND INTERPRETATION OF ONE OF THE LARGEST WORKSHOPS FISH- SALTING PRODUCTION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
  2. $131,461 spent. SPAIN - CASTLE ZORITA DE LOS CANES, (LOCATED 1.5 HOURS TO THE EAST OF MADRID IN THE GUADALAJARA PROVINCE) IS A 9TH CENTURY MOORISH CASTLE. AFARS GOAL (ONGOING SINCE 2014) IS TO CONDUCT A PROPER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND STUDY OF THE CASTLE. PROJECT CASTLE ZORITA DE LOS CANES ENTAILS RESEARCH, EXPLORATION, STUDY AND SITE PRESERVATION.
  3. $242,696 spent. BELIZE - CAHAL PECH IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS OF SAN IGNACIO TOWN, IN THE UPPER BELIZE VALLEY REGION OF WESTERN BELIZE. AFAR WILL CONTINUE ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE BELIZE VALLEY ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE PROJECT TO WORK AT THE ANCIENT MAYA SITE OF CAHAL PECH. THIS WORK WILL ENTAIL EXCAVATION, MAPPING, ILLUSTRATION, ARTIFACT PROCESSING, AND SCIENTIFIC JOURNALING OF THIS IMPORTANT CENTER, FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT AT THE END OF THE EARLY PRECLASSIC PERIOD (1200-900 B.C.) TO ITS SUBSEQUENT ABANDONMENT IN THE TERMINAL CLASSIC PERIOD (~AD 800-900).

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2023.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 September 2024.

    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 November 4, 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.