Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Innovation Africa

EIN 33-1186746 · Rockville Ctr, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING ISRAELI SOLAR, WATER, AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES TO RURAL AFRICAN VILLAGES. WE USE SOLAR ENERGY TO PUMP CLEAN WATER TO VILLAGES, AND PROVIDE SCHOOLS AND MEDICAL CLINICS WITH LIGHT AND REFRIGERATION TO STORE VACCINES AND MEDICINES.

Income
$22.3 million
Spending
$21.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$216,000, cfo

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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)
  1. $19.1 million spent. THROUGH ITS EMPLOYEES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND RESOURCES DEPLOYED THROUGH ITS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INNOVATION: AFRICA ISRAEL, INNOVATION: AFRICA BRINGS ISRAELI SOLAR, WATER, AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES TO RURAL AFRICAN VILLAGES. USING SOLAR ENERGY, WE PROVIDE ELECTRICITY TO POWER SCHOOLS AND ORPHANAGES ALLOWING STUDENTS TO STUDY AT NIGHT AND HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, AND WE ELECTRIFY MEDICAL CENTERS, ENABLING THEM TO WORK IN THE DARK AND PROVIDE PROPER HEALTHCARE TO THE COMMUNITIES. WE ALSO SUPPLY MEDICAL CENTERS WITH REFRIGERATION FOR THE SAFE STORAGE OF MEDICINES AND VACCINATIONS. THE SOLAR-POWERED WATER PUMPS INSTALLED IN THE VILLAGES ALLOW FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ENERGY TO PUMP SAFE, CLEAN WATER FROM DEEP BELOW THE GROUND IN THE AQUIFERS, AND MAKE IT AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND. EACH WATER PUMP PROVIDES RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH OVER 30,000 LITERS OF CLEAN WATER PER DAY. THE IMPACT OF CLEAN WATER AND POWER INCLUDES IMPROVED COMMUNITY HEALTH; BETTER EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN WHO NO LONGER NEED TO SPEND THEIR DAYS TREKKING FAR TO FETCH WATER. OVERALL, COMMUNITIES ARE ABLE TO FLOURISH WITH THE ADDITION OF CLEAN WATER AND ELECTRICITY. INNOVATION: AFRICA ALSO BRINGS A UNIQUELY ISRAELI AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION, DRIP IRRIGATION, WHICH ENABLES THE GROWTH OF MORE FOOD WITH LESS WATER, EXTENDS THE GROWING SEASON, PREVENTS HUNGER AND CREATES REVENUE-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES. WE BELIEVE THE CORE OF EACH PROJECT IS TO CREATE LONG-LASTING AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, AND OUR ENGINEERS DEVELOPED A REMOTE MONITORING TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT SYSTEM FAILURES AND TRAIN LOCAL RESIDENTS TO REPAIR EQUIPMENT SO THAT VILLAGES ARE NEVER LEFT IN THE DARK OR WITHOUT WATER. THROUGHOUT 2024, INNOVATION: AFRICA PROVIDED SOLAR ENERGY AND CLEAN WATER TO 201 NEW VILLAGES, IMPACTING THE LIVES OF NEARLY 1 MILLION PEOPLE FROM UGANDA, TANZANIA, MALAWI, CAMEROON, SOUTH AFRICA AND ZAMBIA.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.