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Association of Black Foundation Executives Inc

EIN 23-7156531 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ABFE'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE PHILANTHROPY IN BLACK COMMUNITIES. AS AN INSTITUTION, ABFE SEEKS TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY OF PHILANTHROPIC PRACTICE AND THEREBY THE OVERALL HEALTH AND STRENGTH OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$9.0 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
20.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
35
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$399,028, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 137% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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, 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND JAMES JOSEPH LECTUREABFE'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS A GATHERING OF PHILANTHROPIC AND NON-PROFIT PROFESSIONALS FOR NETWORKING AND ENGAGEMENT AROUND SHARED INTEREST IN SUPPORTING BLACK COMMUNITIES THROUGH PHILANTHROPY. THE TARGET AUDIENCE IS ABFE'S MEMBERS AND PARTNERS; FOUNDATION TRUSTEES, EXECUTIVE STAFF AND PROGRAM OFFICERS, GRANT MAKING ENTITIES INCLUDING PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATE GIVING PROGRAMS, DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS AND GIVING CIRCLES.
  2. $704,812 spent. PHILANTHROPIC ADVISING SERVICESPHILANTHROPIC ADVISING SERVICES PROVIDE WORKSHOPS AND TOOLS DESIGNED TO INCREASE GRANTMAKERS' INVESTMENTS, DEVELOP COLLECTIVE GIVING MODELS, AND SUPPORT DONORS IN DOING THEIR WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY.
  3. $662,520 spent. MEMBERSHIP SERVICESABFE MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO PHILANTHROPIC PROFESSIONALS, NONPROFIT LEADERS, INDIVIDUAL DONORS, AND SECTOR PARTNERS. ABFE OFFERS A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND IDEAS, AND TO CULTIVATE PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT OFTEN RESULT IN LEARNING, CO-INVESTMENT, AND EXPANDED SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES.
  4. $4.0 million spent. BLACK COMMUNITY FUNDERS NETWORKTHE BLACK COMMUNITIES FUNDERS NETWORK IS A NATIONAL NETWORK OF LEADERS MANAGING FUNDS AT COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS, INTERMEDIARY ORGANIZATIONS, AND COLLABORATIVE FUNDS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT BLACK COMMUNITIES AND BLACK-LED ORGANIZATIONS.CONNECTING LEADERS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (CLFP)THE CONNECTING LEADERS FELLOWSHIP IS A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT CULTIVATES BOLD, REPRESENTATIVE, AND INCLUSIVE DECISION-MAKERS TO LEAD THE PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR. FELLOWS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM SEASONED GRANTMAKERS AND PEERS ON A REGULAR BASIS, UNDERSTAND HOW TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE AGENTS FOR CHANGE WITHIN THEIR INSTITUTIONS, AND PARTICIPATE IN A NETWORK THAT FOCUSES ON INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY CHALLENGES.LEVERAGE THE TRUST - CALEVERAGE THE TRUST IS A COMMUNITY OF FOUNDATION TRUSTEES IN CALIFORNIA ORGANIZED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, CREATE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, STRATEGIZE TOGETHER, AND TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION ON ISSUES IMPACTING THE BLACK COMMUNITY.BLACK WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY (BWIP) THE BLACK WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY LEADERSHIP (BWIP) RETREAT PROVIDES AN INTIMATE, RESTORATIVE SPACE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO DEEPEN THEIR CONNECTIONS, EXPAND THEIR LEADERSHIP ACUMEN, AND COLLECTIVELY STRENGTHEN THEIR CAPACITY TO LEAD, DIRECT, AND SERVE IN WAYS THAT CENTER ON HEALING, RESTORATION, AND FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SECTOR. CORPORATE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICECORPORATE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE IS A MEMBER NETWORK DESIGNED TO EMPOWER CORPORATE PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS WITH THE TOOLS TO CHAMPION INCREASED ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES. READIREADI IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ABFE AND OTHER PHILANTHROPIC AFFINITY GROUPS; TO PROTECT AND EXPEND RACE EXPLICIT GRANDMAKING IN PHILANTHROPY. OTHER PROGRAMSOTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE ENGAGEMENTS CHAMA TO BUILD FUNDER COLLABORATIVES IN SUPPORT OF BLACK COMMUNITIES AND SMART INVESTING, TO EXPAND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THE MOST TALENTED FINANCIAL FIRMS ARE HIRED IN THE FIELD.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 January 1973.

    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.