Self Help Africa Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EMPOWER RURAL AFRICA TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.
- Income
- $612,110
- Spending
- $607,261
- Spent on programs
- 62%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $130,000, 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 48% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1562% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
- $373,565 spent. SELF HELP AFRICA'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER RURAL AFRICA TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. ON A CONTINENT WHERE UP TO 75% OF THE PEOPLE RELY ON SMALL-SCALE AGRICULTURE FOR THEIR SURVIVAL, SELF HELP AFRICA , INC. BELIEVES THAT IT IS ONLY BY TACKLING THE CHALLENGES FACED BY RURAL FARMING COMMUNITIES CAN REAL AND SUSTAINED ECONOMIC PROGRESS BE MADE ACROSS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. FOR OVER A QUARTER-CENTURY, SELF HELP AFRICA, IR HAS SOUGHT TO STRENGTHEN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS; IMPROVE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND INPUTS; AND TO PROVIDE RURAL AFRICAN COMMUNITIES WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MARKET AND SELL THEIR PRODUCE. SELF HELP AFRICA WORKS WITH LOCAL STAFF AND PARTNERS IN NINE COUNTRIES TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES TO GROW MORE FOOD; DIVERSIFY THEIR FARM PRODUCTION; DEVELOP NEW OFF-FARM ENTERPRISE; AND SELL THEIR FARM SURPLUSES. IT SUPPORTS RURAL MICRO- FINANCE PROGRAMS; ASSISTS PRODUCERS TO ORGANIZE INTO FARMERS' ASSOCIATIONS AND CO-OPERATIVES; AND ENABLES FARM FAMILIES TO ACCESS MARKETS AND ADD VALUE TO THEIR PRODUCE. ADDITIONALLY IT PROMOTES LOW-COST SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES; SUPPORTS COMMUNITY ADAPTION TO A CHANGING CLIMATE; AND PROVIDES RESOURCES TO COMMUNITIES TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF GENDER INEQUALITY. SELF HELP AFRICA IS ALSO COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING IN SUPPORT OF THE INTERESTS OF AFRICAN SMALLHOLDER FARMERS, URGING ALONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO AID AND INVESTMENT, TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. THIS ADVOCACY INVOLVES GIVING VOICE TO SMALLHOLDER FARMERS AT NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS, SEEKING TO ENSURE THAT THE UNIQUE POSITION OF SMALLHOLDERS IN AFRICAN AGRICULTURE IS UNDERSTOOD AND THAT IT IS USED TO POWER ECONOMIC GROWTH IN AFRICA.
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 April 2010.
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.