Awake and Alive Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN ETHIOPIA.
- Income
- $616,561
- Spending
- $340,905
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 24.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 83% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% 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.
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 December 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 (4)
- $259,147 spent. PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TO BRIGHT FUTURE ETHIOPIA, AN ETHIOPIAN NGO, TO FUND BRIGHT FUTURE ACADEMY AND TUTORIAL SERVICES IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA. BRIGHT FUTURE ETHIOPIA PROVIDED FULL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-1, K-2, AND K-3 IN BRIGHT FUTURE ACADEMY AND TUTORIAL SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN GRADES 1-11. THE CHILDREN RANGE IN AGE FROM 4-16 YEARS OLD AND RECEIVE LUNCH EACH DAY. THE GOAL OF THE ACADEMY AND TUTORIAL SERVICES IS TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION AND SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE STUDENT TO BE HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. APPROXIMATELY 297 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE BRIGHT FUTURE ETHIOPIA PROGRAMS.
- $10,302 spent. PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TO KECHENE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (ALSO KNOWN AS MESERET EMEBET AND FRIENDS), A PROGRAM PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT FOR MOTHERS OF STUDENTS OF THE BRIGHT FUTURE ETHIOPIA TUTORIAL PROGRAM IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA. THE FUNDS PROVIDE AN INCOME STIPEND FOR PARTICIPANTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE ORGANIZATION TO FURTHER SUPPORT BENEFICIARY FAMILIES OF BRIGHT FUTURE ETHIOPIA. APPROXIMATELY 13 WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN THE KECHENE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM.
- $34,858 spent. FACILITATE A GROUP TRIP OF AMERICAN VOLUNTEERS TO ETHIOPIA TO BRIGHT FUTURE ACADEMY AND TUTORIAL PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LESSONS AND CRAFTS TO THE STUDENTS AT THE ACADEMY, AND GENERAL SITE IMPROVEMENTS IF NEEDED. THE TRIP CREATES AWARENESS OF BRIGHT FUTURE ACADEMY AND AWAKE AND ALIVE. IN ADDITION, IT FACILITATES REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM BY AWAKE AND ALIVE DIRECTORS/OFFICERS. FEES ARE GENERALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS BUT AWAKE & ALIVE DOES INCUR EXPENSES FOR SOME TRIPS. APPROXIMATELY 6-10 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT PRESENCE ON EACH TRIP.
- $25,023 spent. OTHER PROGRAM RELATED EXPENSES
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 2012.
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.
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.