Zimele USA
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CONFRONT THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY IN RURAL SOUTH AFRICA BY EMPOWERING WOMEN WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY, SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING AND LIFE SKILLS TO SUSTAIN NOT ONLY THEMSELVES, BUT THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $285,114
- Spending
- $289,587
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $50,417, 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $223,129 spent. TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION, OUR APPROACH INVOLVES AN INTENSIVE PROCESS THAT SECURES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALTHY GROWTH ENABLING WOMEN TO RISE ABOVE POVERTY. WE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR TRAINING WORKSHOPS IN BUSINESS SKILLS SUCH AS PRODUCT DESIGN, MARKETING, BOOKKEEPING AND BASIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. BY BUILDING THESE ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS, COMMUNITIES WILL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE FUND RAISE UP WOMEN LEADERS WHO MAKE KEY DECISIONS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES ADVOCATING WITHIN LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES. CHANGE AND SOCIAL REFORMS SUCH AS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, BETTER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES POSITIVELY AFFECT THE LIVES OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO EMPOWER AND BUILD UP WOMEN TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT THROUGH SELF-HELP GROUPS, CLUSTER LEVEL ASSOCIATIONS AND FEDERATIONS. BY WORKING IN COMMUNITY WITH OTHER WOMEN, THEY ALSO RECEIVE VITAL SUPPORT IN IMPROVING THEIR LIVES. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, ZIMELE USA FUNDRAISED THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING: 1) IN FEBRUARY, ZIMELE USA HELD A BAKE SALE CALLED BAKED WITH LOVE. LOCAL AREA BAKERS DONATED BAKED GOODS WHICH WERE PRE-ORDERED AND PROCEEDS WERE DONATED TO ZIMELE USA. THIS WAS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ZIMELE USA TO SHARE ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN WHO HAVE STARTED THEIR OWN BAKING BUSINESSES. 2) IN AUGUST, ZIMELE USA ORGANIZED A 400 MILE BIKE RIDE CALLED "RIDE FOR ZIMELE" IN WHICH A TEAM OF 8 CYCLISTS RODE THEIR BIKES FROM NEW JERSEY TO MONTREAL, CANADA OVER 5 DAYS TO FUNDRAISE FOR ZIMELE PROGRAMS.
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 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 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 June 2008.
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.