Uweza Aid Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UWEZA AID FOUNDATION EMPOWERS KENYAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO PURSUE A PATH TO A BETTER FUTURE THROUGH THE DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR TALENTS AND ABILITIES.
- Income
- $239,410
- Spending
- $242,298
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $49,111, 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (9)
- $24,200 spent. SOCCER PROGRAM/UWEZA SOCCER ACADEMY: SOCCER IS VERY POPULAR AMONG YOUTH IN KIBERA AND OUR LARGEST AND MOST WELL-KNOWN PROGRAM IN KENYA, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO REACH VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN WAYS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN POSSIBLE. WE USE SOCCER AS A VEHICLE TO PROMOTE LIFE SKILLS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION. 150 CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS PARTICIPATE IN OUR AGE-SPECIFIC TEAMS FOR BOTH BOYS/MEN AND GIRLS/WOMEN. THE UWEZA SOCCER ACADEMY IS PIONEERING GIRLS AND WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS IN KIBERA AND KENYA.
- $33,888 spent. SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM:EDUCATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO KIBERA FAMILIES, WHO RECOGNIZE ITS POTENTIAL TO LIFT STUDENTS OUT OF POVERTY. ALTHOUGH BOTH PRIMARY AND HIGH SCHOOL HAVE BEEN DECLARED FREE BY THE KENYAN GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH ATTENDING SCHOOL THAT MANY FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED 50 SCHOLARSHIPS TO PRIMARY STUDENTS ATTENDING LOCAL SCHOOLS; SECONDARY STUDENTS MOST OF WHOM ATTEND BOARDING SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF KIBERA; AND POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS WHO ATTEND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AROUND THE COUNTRY. SCHOLARSHIPS COVER THE COSTS OF SCHOOL FEES, SCHOOL UNIFORMS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, MENTORSHIP AND GUIDANCE, AND LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS.
- $26,817 spent. ART PROGRAM/UWEZA ART GALLERY:THE UWEZA ART GALLERY OPENED IN 2013 TO PROVIDE YOUNG, UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES CREATIVELY AND EARN AN INCOME FROM THEIR ARTISTIC TALENTS. THE GALLERY PROVIDES ARTISTS WITH FREE MATERIALS AND MARKETING SUPPORT. 60% OF ALL ART SALES GOES TO THE ARTIST. 40% OF SALES GOES BACK INTO THE GALLERY TO PAY RENT AND PURCHASE SUPPLIES. THE GALLERY STRIVES TO BE SUSTAINABLY RUN THROUGH THE SALES OF ARTWORK. SEVERAL OF THE ARTISTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PAY THE ENTIRETY OF THEIR PRIMARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH THE SALES OF THEIR ARTWORK, AND MANY OF THE OLDER ARTISTS ARE ABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR SALES. UWEZA ART GALLERY ALSO HOSTS FREE ART CLASSES FOR CHILDREN FROM KIBERA TWICE A WEEK.
- $2,600 spent. BRIGHT FUTURESTHE GOAL OF THIS YOUNG WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT GROUP IS TO HELP WOMEN BECOME FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH EACH MEMBER TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND SELF-SUSTAINABILITY UTILIZING THEIR OWN INTERESTS, PASSIONS, AND CAPABILITIES. OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING AND BUSINESS START-UP/EXPANSION LOANS, EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY, AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURSES. THE GROUP ALSO PARTICIPATES IN GROUP SAVINGS ACTIVITIES AND RECEIVES TRAINING IN LIFE SKILLS.
- $3,078 spent. GOLDEN GIRLS POWEROUR GIRLS' EMPOWERMENT CLUB PROVIDES 60-70 GIRLS LIVING IN KIBERA WITH A SAFE SPACE TO MEET EVERY WEEKEND, SOCIALIZE, AND LEARN ABOUT LIFE SKILLS ISSUES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO IMPROVING THEIR MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. THE GIRLS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN DRAMA, POETRY, ARTS AND CRAFTS, TAEKWONDO/SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING, AND JUMP ROPE.
- $409 spent. CHILDREN'S BOOK PROJECT:THE AIM OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO CREATE A CHILDREN'S BOOK BASED IN KENYA. WE WORKED WITH A KIBERA-BASED AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR BASED AT UWEZA ART GALLERY TO CREATE "KIBERA'S UNEXPECTED TREASURE," A CHILDREN'S BOOK THAT TAKES PLACE IN KIBERA. THE BOOK IS A CELEBRATION OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE WORK. IT OFFERS CHILDREN FROM KIBERA AND OTHER SIMILAR COMMUNITIES THE CHANCE TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN THE STORIES THEY READ, FOSTERING A SENSE OF PRIDE AND REPRESENTATION.
- $14,336 spent. SECURING LIVELIHOODS THROUGH ART FOR YOUTH IN NAIROBI'S INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS:THIS YEAR-LONG PROJECT FUNDED BY HEVA FUND, BRITISH COUNCIL, AND THE ACP-EU CULTURE PROGRAMME, RECRUITED YOUNG ARTISTS, AGES 18-30, FROM 10 INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS OR SIMILAR COMMUNITIES IN NAIROBI. THE ARTISTS WERE LINKED TO TRAINING AND ACCESS TO NEW NETWORKS AND MARKETS, ULTIMATELY IMPROVING THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE A LIVING THROUGH ART. MAJOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED AN OPEN CALL/TALENT SEARCH AND ART EXHIBITION, A TWELVE-WEEK TRAINING, AND AN UPGRADE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF UWEZA ART GALLERY.
- $29,864 spent. PASSION TO SHARE FOUNDATIONPASSION TO SHARE FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN KIBERA. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES YOUNG WOMEN WITH VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN COMPUTER GRAPHICS, TAILORING, HAIRDRESSING, AND COSMETOLOGY AS WELL AS MENTORSHIP AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
- $67,184 spent. OTHER
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.