Friends of the American University of Afghanistan
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF AFGHANISTAN (FAUAF) IS A 501(C)(3) PUBLIC CHARITY THAT ADVANCES HIGHER EDUCATION FOR AFGHAN STUDENTS BY FUNDING ACADEMIC OPERATIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND BRIDGE PROGRAMMING AT INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF AFGHANISTAN (AUAF) -- THE ONLY ACCREDITED AMERICAN-STYLE, CO-EDUCATIONAL UNIVERSITY SERVING AFGHAN STUDENTS - AND AT MISSION-ALIGNED PARTNERS THAT EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG AFGHANS.
- Income
- $784,830
- Spending
- $898,480
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $110,386, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 68% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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
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 (1)
- $772,009 spent. DIRECT FUNDING AND ACADEMIC CONTINUITY AT AUAF DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, FAUAF GRANTED 345,000 IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TO AUAF, ENABLING THE UNIVERSITY TO SUSTAIN ACADEMIC OPERATIONS DURING A PERIOD OF SUBSTANTIAL EXTERNAL FUNDING DISRUPTION. AUAF ENROLLED OVER 1,100 STUDENTS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. DEMAND CONTINUES TO FAR EXCEED CAPACITY: IN EARLY 2025, AUAF RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 21,000 APPLICATIONS FOR 200 FIRST-YEAR SEATS IN THE TWO DAYS FOLLOWING THE OPENING OF ADMISSIONS. THE FISCAL YEAR WAS MARKED BY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN EXTERNAL FUNDING TO AUAF. AUAF'S SPRING SEMESTER WAS TEMPORARILY POSTPONED DUE TO THE SUSPENSION AND SUBSEQUENT RESTORATION OF ITS FEDERAL GRANT SUPPORT, WITH ADMINISTRATION OF THE RELEVANT FEDERAL GRANT TRANSFERRED FROM USAID TO U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. FAUAF'S UNRESTRICTED GRANTS SERVED AS BRIDGE SUPPORT DURING THIS PERIOD OF DISRUPTED FEDERAL FUNDING, ALLOWING AUAF TO MAINTAIN INSTRUCTION, RETAIN FACULTY AND STAFF, AND RE-OPEN PROGRAMMING WHEN PERMITTED. UNRESTRICTED GRANTS WERE APPROVED BY THE FAUAF BOARD, AND AUAF REPORTS ON THE USE OF UNRESTRICTED FUNDS AT SEMI-ANNUAL INTERVALS. FUNDING DEPLOYED DURING THIS PERIOD ALIGNED WITH AUAF'S STRATEGIC PLAN TO EXPAND INSTRUCTIONAL CAPACITY, STRENGTHEN TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MAINTAIN ACADEMIC QUALITY AS ENROLLMENT GROWS. FAUAF'S "DARE TO LEARN" INITIATIVE, LAUNCHED IN EARLY 2024, RAISES UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TOWARD THOSE PURPOSES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, FAUAF ALSO CONCLUDED DIRECT FUNDING OF STUDENT, FACULTY, AND STAFF RELOCATION AND EVACUATION ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN FOLLOWING THE AUGUST 2021 COLLAPSE. RELOCATION SUPPORT, WHICH CONSTITUTED A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF FAUAF PROGRAMMING IN FISCAL YEARS 2021-2023, IN NO LONGER AN ACTIVE PROGRAM AREA; FAUAF HAS REFOCUSED ITS PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SERVING AFGHAN STUDENTS. DIRECT STUDENT WELLNESS, SKILL-BUILDING, ALUMNI PROGRAMMING, AND CAREER PLACEMENT FAUAF OPERATES DIRECT PROGRAMS SUPPORTING AUAF STUDENTS AND GRADUATES, FOCUSED ON MENTAL WELLNESS, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS SKILL-BUILDING, ALUMNI COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND CAREER PLACEMENT. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED AND OPERATED BY FAUAF STAFF IN COORDINATION WITH AUAF PERSONNEL AND ACADEMIC PARTNERS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, FAUAF ALLOCATED APPROXIMATELY 90% OF ITS PROGRAM MANAGER'S PROFESSIONAL TIME TO DIRECT STUDENT AND ALUMNI PROGRAMMING. LET'S CONNECT: FAUAF OPERATES LET'S CONNECT, A MONTHLY VIRTUAL CONVENING FOR AUAF FEMALE STUDENTS FOCUSED ON MENTAL WELLNESS, PEER SUPPORT, AND STRUCTURED MENTORSHIP. SESSIONS ARE CO-FACILITATED BY FAUAF AND WITH PRO- BONO SERVICE FROM CLINICAL PSYCHIATRISTS, AND FEATURE GUEST PRACTITIONERS ACROSS JOURNALISM, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MEDIATION, AND COUNSELING. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, FAUAF HELD 12 LET'S CONNECT SESSIONS WITH AN ATTENDANCE RANGING FROM 30 TO 130 STUDENTS PER SESSION. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN OPERATING MONTHLY SINCE 2023. STUDENT STORYTELLING: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, FAUAF OPERATES A STRUCTURED 12-WEEK STORYTELLING AND NARRATIVE-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR AUAF FEMALE STUDENTS, DELIVERED AS A SMALL-COHORT MODEL WITH WEEKLY WORKSHOPS. THE PROGRAM BUILDS WRITING, COMMUNICATION, AND PERSONAL- ADVOCACY SKILLS FOR STUDENTS. THIS FISCAL YEAR FEATURED EIGHT STUDENTS IN THE INAUGURAL COHORT, WITH AN ADDITIONAL COHORT PLANNED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. CAREER PLACEMENT FOR AUAF GRADUATES: FAUAF DIRECTLY PURSUES EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS FOR AUAF GRADUATES RESIDING IN AFGHANISTAN, WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS OPERATING IN-COUNTRY AND IN THE REGION. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CANDIDATE IDENTIFICATION, RESUME REVIEW, INTERVIEW PREPARATION, EMPLOYER CORRESPONDENCE, JOB POSTING, AND PLACEMENT SUPPORT. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, FAUAF'S PARTNERSHIP WITH GHAZANFAR BANK PLACED 2 AUAF GRADUATES IN ROLES IN THE BANK'S AUDIT DEPARTMENT, WITH MORE CANDIDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR LATER HIRING CYCLES. THE CAREER PLACEMENT PROGRAM IS BEING EXTENDED TO OTHER FINANCIAL SECTORS AND INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYERS. ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITY-BUILDING: FAUAF MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE ALUMNI COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN 300 AUAF GRADUATES AND OPERATIONS PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO KEEP ALUMNI CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER, TO AUAF, AND TO ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, FAUAF PROVIDED COORDINATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND DESIGN SUPPORT TO A VOLUNTEER-LED ALUMNI CONSORTIUM CO-CHAIRED BY AUAF GRADUATES, CONDUCTING PROGRAM PLANNING AND ALUMNI-ENGAGEMENT OUTREACH. HIGH SCHOOL BRIDGE PROGRAMMING FOR AFGHAN STUDENTS QUALITY SECONDARY-TO-TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL PIPELINES ARE CRITICAL FOR THE CONTINUATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AFGHANISTAN. FAUAF DIRECTS GRANT FUNDING TOWARD BRIDGE PROGRAMS PREPARING HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY YOUNG WOMEN -- WHO ARE FORMALLY BARRED FROM SECONDARY AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION INSIDE AFGHANISTAN UNDER EDICTS - FOR ENTRY INTO HIGHER EDUCATION AND SKILLED EMPLOYMENT. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, FAUAF RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION TO CONTINUE FUNDING HIGH-SCHOOL PREPARATORY BOOTCAMPS IN TECHNOLOGY AND ACADEMIC READINESS, BUILDING ON FAUAF'S EARLIER SEED FUNDING FOR THE MODEL. THE BOOTCAMPS PREPARE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS FOR UNIVERSITY COURSEWORK IN IT AND COMPUTER SCIENCE. PROGRAMMING UNDER THE GRANT IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN FISCAL YEAR 2026. FAUAF'S EARLIER SEED FUNDING CONTRIBUTED TO THE DESIGN OF AUAF'S "TRANSITION TO SUCCESS" (TTS) INITIATIVE, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED SEPARATE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT FUNDING ADMINISTERED THROUGH AUAF. IN FEBRUARY 2025, THE FEDERAL GRANT SUPPORTING TTS WAS TERMINATED. FAUAF'S HIGH-SCHOOL BRIDGE PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT IS CRITICAL FOR THE EDUCATIONAL ECOSYSTEM IN AFGHANISTAN AND REMAINS A STRATEGIC PRIORITY FOR FUNDING. GRANTS TO MISSION-ALIGNED PARTNERS ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AWARENESS FOR YOUNG AFGHANS FAUAF MAKES GRANTS TO MISSION-ALIGNED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG AFGHANS. FAUAF AWARDED A 3,000 G
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 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 October 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: American Friends of the Hebrew University Inc (New York, NY), EIN 13-1568923. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.