Epic-Africa Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 43% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
EPIC-Africa seeks to enhance philanthropic impact by filling critical data and capacity gaps in the philanthropic market infrastructure in Africa to help increase the visibility and credibility of African civil society organizations.
- Income
- $538,645
- Spending
- $662,648
- Spent on programs
- 43%
- Reserves
- 8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $93,276, co-founder/ceo
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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1543% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $285,308 spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS EPIC-AFRICA MADE SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES IN ITS MISSION TO FILL CRITICAL DATA AND CAPACITY GAPS IN THE AFRICA CIVIL SOCIETY AND PHILANTHROPY SECTORS, FURTHER ENTRENCHING ITS TRACK RECORD AS A UNIQUE AND CREDIBLE SOURCE OF DATA AND ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS. EPIC-AFRICAS CSO PLATFORM, LAUNCHED IN 2023 THE PLATFOR GREW TO 2000+ ORGANIZATIONS FROM 47 AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AND 7,000+ USERS INCLUDING CSOS, FUNDERS, INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER ENTITIES. THE PLATFORM IS OFFERING GREATER VISIBILITY TO AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS WHILE ENABLING FUNDERS TO MORE EASILY CONNECT TO AND LEARN ABOUT AFRICAN CSOS . THE PLATFORM ALSO OFFERS CSOS A RANGE OF RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO AMPLIFY THEIR IMPACT. CONTINENT-WIDE MAPPING OF WOMEN-LED/FOCUSED CSOS TO UNDERSTADN THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITES FOR STRENGTHENING THE SUB-SECTOR. RESEARCH ON INDIVIDUAL GIVING TO AFRICAN CSOS- THIS GROUND BREAKING STUDY REVEALED WIDESPREAD LOCAL GIVING CHALLNEGING THE MYTHS ABOUT AFRICAN GIVING AND OPENING UP A NEW RESEARCH AGENDA. CAPACITY STRENGTHENG ACTIVITIES INCLUDED LAUNCHING THE AMA WEBINAR SERIES, WHICH CURATES CONVERSATIONS AMONG FUNDERS AND CSOS TO LEARN TOGETHER AND TO SHARE TOOLS. CONTRIBUTED TO SALIENT DISCOURSES ON AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND PHILANTHROPY THROUGH PUBLISHING ARTICLES, REPORTS, AND SPEAKING AT GLOBAL AND REGIONAL PLATFORMS AND CONVENINGS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.