Passes our checks

Friends of Meali International Inc

EIN 26-3476805 · Needham, MA

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

What it says it does

FRIENDS OF MEALI INTERNATIONAL, INC.'S MISSION IS TO BUILD BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR TANZANIAN CHILDREN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 18.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
7 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15
Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15
Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)

$71,332 spent. CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED ON THE LUCAS MINHA SCHOOL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1000 PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS INCLUDING PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN. THE SCHOOL OPENED IN JANUARY 2024 AND IS THE FIRST JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN THE TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT AND A FOREIGN COMPANY.
$100,000 spent. CONSTRUCTION IS CONTINUTING ON THE HOPE SCHOOL, A SPECIAL PROJECT OF OUR TANZANIAN DIRECTOR, A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF ARUSHA, TANZANIA THAT WILL EVENTUALLY ACCOMMODATE BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. ENROLLMENT IS NOW ABOUT 500 STUDENTS, PRE-K THROUGH 7.
$187,276 spent. LUNCH & SCHOLARSHIP AID TO CHILDREN IN AND GRADUATES FROM ALL THREE OF OUR RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MEALI, LOSIRWA, AND OLDEANI. WE SUPPORT A TOTAL OF 2100 PRIMARY CHILDREN (PRE-K THROUGH 7), AND OVER THE PAST 10-11 YEARS HAVE SUBSIDIZED HIGHER EDUCATION FOR 800 STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 June 2025.
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 April 2009.
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.