Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The American Academic Research Institute in Iraq

EIN 36-3684155 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTION OF SCHOLARLY RESEARCH ON AND IN IRAQ AND ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA. TAARII RAISES FUNDS FOR GRADUATE AND POST-GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS FOR AMERICANS AND FOR IRAQI ACADEMICS TO PERFORM RESEARCH WORK ON IRAQ IN A BROAD RANGE OF DISCIPLINES.

Income
$468,068
Spending
$571,491
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
1

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $474,136 spent. TAARII AWARDED RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARS IN THE US AND IN IRAQ. WITH IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH AND TRAVEL, TAARII CONTINUED IN PERSON CONFERENCES AND EVENTS IN THE US AND INTERNATIONALLY, WHILE ALSO HOLDING VIRTUAL PROGRAMS TO MAINTAIN EASIER ACCESS. TAARII CONTINUED A PROJECT FROM THE SMITHSONIAN AND THE US EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD TO DOCUMENT AND STABILIZE THE ANCIENT SITE OF NIMRUD, AS WELL AS A PROJECT TO STABILIZE A HISTORIC PALACE IN DIYALA. AN ACTING REGIONAL DIRECTOR IN BAGHDAD IS ASSISTING VOLUNTARILY AS TAARII FINALIZES THE PLACEMENT OF A PERMANENT REGIONAL DIRECTOR. TAARII CONTINUED TO EMPLOY THE US-BASED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND A PART-TIME REGIONAL DIRECTOR IN ERBIL, WHO OVERSEAS TAARIIS OFFICE IN THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ ALONG WITH THE PROJECTS IN THE REGION.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 May 1990.

    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.