Ancient Egypt Research Asssociates Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Using archeology and training to explore Egypt's past and empower young Egyptian archeologists.
- Income
- $705,845
- Spending
- $670,474
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $76,790, treasurer/business manager
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 8 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 June 30, 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 (3)
- $313,746 spent. Giza and Cairo Center Project: The Cairo Center has been officially named The Mark Lehner Center. Located in Giza, Egypt, the Lehner Center is a compound of buildings that includes a villa containing the archives of over 25 years of field expeditions in Giza, Mit Rahina, and Luxor. It also houses a computer lab, lecture hall/library, laundry facilities, kitchen and staff quarters. The Lehner Center is meant to be the home of an archeological community that brings together archologists from Egypt and around the world in a mutually beneficial exchange of values and ideas.
- $67,060 spent. Publication/Website: AERA's publications program is responsible for disseminating the results of AERA's fieldwork to both a broad general audience, as well as, the scholarly community. Publications produces a semiannual newsletter called Aeragram and AERA's annual report outlining it's accomplishments in the preceding fiscal year. In addition, Publications prepares manuscripts for three series of scholarly monographs, as well as, other miscellaneous books covering results and analysis of AERA's field work.
- $45,222 spent. AERA's fieldwork projects in previous years have included the iconic Great Pyramids and Sphinx, as well as discovering ancient city extension and a new Nile port. The AERA team has also created a high precision surveyed map of both the natural and cultural features of the entire Giza Plateau. We continue to use and build upon this data to this day. In addition to survey, we now use ground penetrating radar, laser scanning, and drones to document the major monuments on the Giza plateau and other sites around Egypt.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 May 1986.
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.