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Organization of Chinese Americans Inc

EIN 23-7250499 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ORGANIZATION OF CHINESE AMERICANS, INC. (OCA-ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ADVOCATES) IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATES DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICANS. TO FULFILL ITS MISSION, OCA HAS ESTABLISHED THE FOLLOWING GOALS: ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FAIR TREATMENT; PROMOTE CIVIC PARTICIPATION, EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP; ADVANCE COALITIONS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING; AND TO FOSTER CULTURAL HERITAGE.OCA AIMS TO EMBRACE THE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICANS IN THE U.S. OCA IS ENGAGED IN ORGANIZING ITS OVER 80 CHAPTERS AND COLLEGE AFFILIATES ACROSS THE NATION TO DEVELOP BOTH LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. OCA CHAPTERS AND COLLEGE AFFILIATES ARE ESTABLISHING STRONG LOCAL PROGRAMS IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. OCA'S HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, DC GIVES THE NATIONAL CENTER AN EFFECTIVE VANTAGE POINT FOR MONITORING LEGISLATION AND POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICANS.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
27 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
10
Volunteers
49
Highest pay
$132,228, executive director

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: 95 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

    48 of 48 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. $622,217 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: INCLUDES APA YOUTH ADVOCATES, APIA U LEADERSHIP TRAINING, JACL/OCA LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, K-12 AANHPI CURRICULUM PROJECT, MENTORIN ASIAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM, TECHNOLOGY DATA FELLOWSHIP, OCA DOCUMENTARY PROJECT AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.
  2. $426,758 spent. NATIONAL CONVENTION CORPORATE ACHIVEMENT AWARDS (CAA):THE ANNUAL OCA CONVENTION IS ONE OF THE PREEMINENT ANNUAL EVENTS FOR THE ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN COMMUNTIY, DRAWING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND NETWORKING EVENTS. THE EVENT INCLUDES WORKSHOPS AND SENIOR CITIZENS, COLLEGE AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING, A JOB FAIR, AN EXHIBIT AREA, A COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR, MEAL EVENTS WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKERS, AND AN AWARDS BANQUET. DURING THE BANQUET, ASIAN PACIFIC LEADERS IN A NUMBER OF FIELDS ARE HONORED. OCA ALSO RECOGNIZES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ITS OWN MEMBERS WITH THE CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD, AND THE UNSUNG HEROES' AWARDS. OCA'S NATIONAL BOARD AND BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL ALSO MEETS DURING THE CONVENTION.CAA IS DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING APAS IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR WHO EXEMPLIFY NOT ONLY EXCELLENCE IN THEIR PROFESSION, BUT ALSO LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CONMMUNITIES, AND TO THE EXISTING CORPORATE CULTURE OF DIVERSITY.
  3. $197,704 spent. INTERNSHIP: EVERY YEAR, OCA'S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BRINGS ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS TO WASHINGTON, DC TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC POLICY BY PLACING INTERNS IN CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND AT THE OCA NATIONAL CENTER. STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND ABOUT NATIONAL ISSUES AND POLICIES THAT AFFECT ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICANS.
  4. $55,744 spent. ANTI-ASIAN HATE PROGRAM: THIS IS A TWO-YEAR FUNDED PROGRAM. THE ANTI-HATE PROGRAM AT OCA CONSISTS OF EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY WORK AROUND RACIAL PROFILING AND DISCRIMINATION, BIAS EDUCATION AND TRAININGS, AND SOLIDARITY BUILDING. THIS WORK IS DONE THROUGH WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, COMMUNITY FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS, AND OTHER EVENTS THAT BRING TOGETHER DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TO BUILD UNDERSTANDING AND ALLYSHIP.

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 April 1975.

    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.