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Mayan Hands Foundation Ltd

EIN 26-2633965 · Albany, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MAYAN HANDS FOUNDATION LTD. IS A FAIR-TRADE 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO MAYAN WOMEN AND GIRLS, SO THAT THEY CAN BUILD SUSTAINABLE FUTURES FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, AS THEY CONTINUE TO LIVE WITHIN THE CULTURE THEY CHERISH. MAYAN HANDS OFFERS ARTISAN CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS INCLUDING LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCT DESIGN TRAINING. ARTISANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ACCESS TO PREVENTIVE HEALTH. MAYAN HANDS FACILITATES ACCESS TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR ARTISANS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS, AND ORGANIZES CULTURAL EXCHANGE TOURS WHICH GENERATE ADDITIONAL INCOME FOR ARTISANS.

Income
$377,864
Spending
$314,749
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
29.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 49%
Employees
5
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$62,308, executive director

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

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.1 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 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 (3)
  1. $171,487 spent. THE MAYAN HANDS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM PROVIDES FAIR, RELIABLE INCOME TO MORE THAN 180 EXPERT MAYA WOMEN ARTISANS BY CONNECTING THEM TO CLIENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL FAIR TRADE MARKET. LIVING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, MOST ARTISANS HAVE LITTLE FORMAL EDUCATION, BUT THROUGH MAYAN HANDS THEY PARTICIPATE IN BUSINESS SKILL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CALCULATING FAIR TRADE WAGES, TRACKING PRODUCTION, PREPARING NECESSARY ACCOUNTING DOCUMENTATION, AND FILING TAXES. ONGOING DESIGN AND TECHNICAL SKILL TRAINING SUPPORTS WOMEN ARTISANS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE, TOP-QUALITY PRODUCTS.
  2. $41,089 spent. MAYAN HANDS INVESTS IN THE NEXT GENERATION BY OFFERING ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO BOTH ARTISANS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS. MANY MAYA GIRLS CONTINUE TO FACE ENORMOUS BARRIERS TO EDUCATION BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHIC ACCESS, MISOGYNY-ROOTED PERCEPTIONS OF GIRLS AND WOMEN'S ROLES, AND HIGH COSTS. THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS AND FAMILY STIPENDS TO 58 STUDENTS WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL: 14 IN PRIMARIO (ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - 4TH - 6TH GRADE), 18 IN BASICO (JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL), 9 IN DIVERSIFICADO (SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL), 16 IN UNIVERSITIES AND 1 IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING. MAYAN HANDS DISTRIBUTED SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO 135 CHILDREN OF OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS. STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN A TWICE-YEARLY INTERACTIVE PROGRAM, ADDRESSING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GENDER IN SOCIETY.
  3. $19,635 spent. MAYAN HANDS PROMOTES HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH A PREVENTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM OFFERING CULTURALLY SENSITIVE EDUCATION AND CLINICAL TREATMENT. THIS YEAR, ARTISANS PARTICIPATED IN A SIX-PART SERIES OF WOMEN'S HEALTH EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, LED BY NURSES WITH CONTENT PRESENTED IN ARTISANS' MAYAN LANGUAGES. THE WORKSHOP SERIES WAS FOLLOWED BY CLINICAL SCREENINGS AND TREATMENTS FOCUSED ON PREVENTION OF CERVICAL CANCER, TREATMENT OF COMMON INFECTIONS, AND PROVISION OF BIRTH CONTROL METHODS IF DESIRED. 118 WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN THE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS; 75 CHOSE TO RECEIVE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 November 2010.

    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.