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American Foreign Service Association Scholarship Fund

EIN 23-7045244 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AFSA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES TO CHILDREN OF FOREIGN SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AFSA MEMBERS: NEED-BASED, FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS (FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDY) AND ONE-TIME ONLY ACADEMIC AND ART MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS (FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS).

Income
$741,629
Spending
$601,721
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 90%
Employees
0
Volunteers
61
Highest pay
$261,736, executive 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 71% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $434,710 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: THE AFSA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OFFERS COLLEGE AID TO CHILDREN OF AFSA MEMBERS WHOS PARENTS ARE/WERE FOREIGN SERVICE EMPLOYEES. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS TO UNDERGRADUATES AND ACADEMIC MERIT AWARDS, ART MERIT AWARDS, AND A COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. THE ABOVE ACTIVITIES COULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE GENEROUS BEQUESTS AND DONATIONS FROM THOSE IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE COMMUNITY. NO AFSA MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE USED IN THE AFSA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THIS ROBUST AFSA MEMBER BENEFIT HAS DISBURSED MORE THAN $4.9 MILLION TO 2,500 STUDENTS IN THE LAST 29 YEARS.

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 October 1972.

    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.