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Association for Enterprise Opportunity Inc

EIN 36-3834357 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AEO IS THE VOICE OF INNOVATION IN MICROBUSINESS AND MICROFINANCE IN THE UNITED STATES. AEO WORKS TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT CAPITAL AND SERVICES FLOW TO UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS SO THAT THEY CAN CREATE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
15
Highest pay
$261,500, president &

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $1.1 million spent. INNOVATION: INNOVATION AT THE ORGANIZATION IS A FACILITATED PROCESS FOR ENGAGING COHORTS OF DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS AND CO-DESIGNING NEW SOLUTIONS AND PLATFORMS THAT DRIVE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE. THE INNOVATION PROGRAM USES THE ORGANIZATION'S CORE COMPETENCIES TO GENERATE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE. ITS GOAL IS TO BUILD A MORE ROBUST AND INCLUSIVE MARKETPLACE FOR UNDERSERVED MICROBUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS. THE ORGANIZATION BRINGS A SERIES OF UNIQUE COMPETENCIES TO INNOVATION. A SYSTEMIC UNDERSTANDING, A CAPACITY TO COLLABORATE AND PARTNER WITH A BROAD AND DIVERSE RANGE OF MARKET ACTORS - AN ENTREPRENEURIAL, RESOURCEFUL APPROACH.
  2. $428,877 spent. ENGAGEMENT COMMUNICATIONS POLICY: THE ORGANIZATION IS LEADING SEVERAL INITIATIVES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATION'S CAPACITY AND REACH TO UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS. AEO HOSTS AN ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO ITS MEMBERS AND THE INDUSTRY. AEO PROMOTES NETWORKING AND INFORMATION SHARING AMONG ITS MEMBERS VIA VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS VEHICLES, SUCH AS THE AEO VOICE, THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE, AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS.
  3. $895,849 spent. RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS THE ORGANIZATION'S RESEARCH PROVIDES TIMELY INFORMATION ON THE INDUSTRY, INCLUDING ANALYZING MICROBUSINESSES' ECONOMIC IMPACT AND NEEDS. RESEARCH PRODUCES NEW INSIGHTS THAT CAN ASSIST WITH RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR FUNDERS, GUIDE ADVOCACY PRIORITIES, AND OFFER INDUSTRY SERVICE PROVIDERS AND LENDERS INFORMATION THAT CAN DEEPEN THEIR IMPACT. THE ORGANIZATION'S RESEARCH UTILIZES DATA FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES TO PROVIDE ANALYSES TO ILLUSTRATE THE MICROBUSINESS LANDSCAPE. --- POLICY AND ADVOCACY POLICY AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE MICROBUSINESS INDUSTRY IN THE AREAS OF TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO MARKETS, CREDIT ACCESS, AND ASSET DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES. THE ORGANIZATION ADVOCATES FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT INVEST IN MICROBUSINESSES AND UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS. RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS THE ORGANIZATION'S RESEARCH PROVIDES TIMELY INFORMATION ON THE INDUSTRY, INCLUDING ANALYZING MICROBUSINESSES' ECONOMIC IMPACT AND NEEDS. RESEARCH PRODUCES NEW INSIGHTS THAT CAN ASSIST WITH RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR FUNDERS, GUIDE ADVOCACY PRIORITIES, AND OFFER INDUSTRY SERVICE PROVIDERS AND LENDERS INFORMATION THAT CAN DEEPEN THEIR IMPACT. THE ORGANIZATION'S RESEARCH UTILIZES DATA FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES TO PROVIDE ANALYSES TO ILLUSTRATE THE MICROBUSINESS LANDSCAPE. --- POLICY AND ADVOCACY POLICY AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE MICROBUSINESS INDUSTRY IN THE AREAS OF TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO MARKETS, CREDIT ACCESS, AND ASSET DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES. THE ORGANIZATION ADVOCATES FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT INVEST IN MICROBUSINESSES AND UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS.
  4. $17,587 spent. BLACK INNOVATION ALLIANCE BLACK INNOVATION ALLIANCE IS A COALITION OF LIKE-MINDED BLACK-LED AND BLACK-SERVING COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ENSURE BLACK OWNERSHIP IS INCREASING THROUGH FAIR PARTICIPATION IN THE INNOVATION ECONOMY. --- THE AEO REGIONAL COUNCILS ARE ACTION-ORIENTED INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS REGION-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THROUGH IN-PERSON CONVENINGS, WEBINARS, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. KEY TOPICS ARE COVERED SUCH AS ACCESS TO CAPITAL, POLICY ADVOCACY, AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. THE COUNCILS WILL ALSO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PRIVATE ENTERPRISES, AND NONPROFITS, PROVIDING SMALL BUSINESSES WITH ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND NETWORKS.
  5. BLACK INNOVATION ALLIANCE BLACK INNOVATION ALLIANCE IS A COALITION OF LIKE-MINDED BLACK-LED AND BLACK-SERVING COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ENSURE BLACK OWNERSHIP IS INCREASING THROUGH FAIR PARTICIPATION IN THE INNOVATION ECONOMY. --- THE AEO REGIONAL COUNCILS ARE ACTION-ORIENTED INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS REGION-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THROUGH IN-PERSON CONVENINGS, WEBINARS, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. KEY TOPICS ARE COVERED SUCH AS ACCESS TO CAPITAL, POLICY ADVOCACY, AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. THE COUNCILS WILL ALSO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PRIVATE ENTERPRISES, AND NONPROFITS, PROVIDING SMALL BUSINESSES WITH ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND NETWORKS.

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 July 1997.

    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.