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The Aja Project

EIN 33-0969020 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AJA PROJECT IS A COMPASSIONATE SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, ACTIVISTS, VISUAL ARTISTS AND EDUCATORS TO ENGAGE CRITICALLY WITH ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY AND REALIZE OUR COLLECTIVE LIBERATION THROUGH PARTICIPATORY STORYTELLING AND THE DOCUMENTARY ARTS.

Income
$357,856
Spending
$421,584
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
9
Volunteers
80

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 August 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 (1)
  1. $259,991 spent. PROGRAMS:THE AJA PROJECT EXISTS TO IGNITE CHANGE, BREAK CYCLES OF MARGINALIZATION, AND TO BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. TO ACHIEVE THIS, AJA PROVIDES PARTICIPATORY ART AND MEDIA ARTS PROGRAMMING TO UNDERSERVED, MARGINALIZED, AND DISPLACED YOUTH, WHILE AMPLIFYING THEIR VOICES TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUANCE OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS DESCRIPTION.PUBLIC ART: THE AJA PROJECT HAS SHARED ITS VISUAL NARRATIVES WITH OVER 3 MILLION VIEWERS THROUGH LARGE-SCALE PUBLIC EXHIBITS. AJA'S PUBLIC ART PORTFOLIO HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR AS WE BARE WITNESS TO THE POWER OF PUBLIC ART TO IGNITE IMPORTANT SOCIAL CONVERSATIONS, PROMOTE CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND FOSTER A SENSE OF COLLECTIVE BELONGING IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ALONE, THIS HAS INCLUDED PARTICIPATORY INSTALLATIONS - SHORT-TERM, LONG-TERM, AND PERMANENT - AT THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THE SAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF MAN, MARKET CREEK PLAZA IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO, THE EAST AFRICAN CULTURAL CENTER IN CITY HEIGHTS, AND MANY OTHERS. FEE-FOR-SERVICE:AJA ALSO CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN OUR FEE-FOR-SERVICE PROGRAM REVENUE STREAM CREATED LAST FISCAL YEAR. THIS MODEL HELPS TO SUPPLEMENT OUR GRANT AND CONTRIBUTION REVENUE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DIRECTLY FUND A PORTION OF AJA'S PROGRAMS AND/OR PUBLIC ART PROJECTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.

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