Zakat Foundation of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
ZAKAT FOUNDATION OF AMERICA FOSTERS CHARITABLE GIVING TO ALLEVIATE THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF DESTITUTE COMMUNITIES AND TO ESTABLISH LONGTERM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ENSURE THE INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY GROWTH. THE ORGANIZATION QUICKLY RESPONDS TO EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
- Income
- $34.9 million
- Spending
- $36.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 9.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 67
- Volunteers
- 4,940
- Highest pay
- $302,157, executive director
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: 77 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $17.0 million spent. FOOD SECURITY, ORPHAN CARE AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS:PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD PACKAGES/BOXES, WHICH PROVIDED FRESH PRODUCE, MEAT, DAIRY, AND HOT MEALS. ZAKAT FOUNDATION OF AMERICA HAS DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN ONE MILLION MEALS IN GAZA DESPITE NUMEROUS RESTRICTIONS, HURDLES, AND RISKS, EVEN FOR THE UN AGENCIES. TO ADDRESS THE REFUGEE CRISIS IN THE USA, ZAKAT FOUNDATION OF AMERICA HAS OPENED A PRIVATELY-RUN 'REFUGEE CENTER' IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO. THE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM WAS DESIGNATED FOR FOOD SECURITY AND PROVISIONS OF NUTRITION AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK DISTRIBUTION, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN. THE ORPHAN CARE PROGRAM COMPRISES OF FOOD, CLOTHING, SCHOOLING, ESSENTIAL NEEDS, AND SEASONAL RELIGIOUS FESTIVITY GIFTS FOR ORPHANS, VULNERABLE CHILDREN, AND SINGLE MOTHERS.
- $10.4 million spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WATER PROJECTS:RECENTLY, THE ROLE OF THE ORGANIZATION HAS SHIFTED MORE TOWARD EMPHASIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY AND TRANSFORMING IT INTO AN INTRA-COMMUNITY INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING FRESH AND CLEAN WATER TO COMMUNITIES BY CONSTRUCTING INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNITY CENTERS, SAFE HOUSES (ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN), SHELTERS, CLINICS, PLACES FOR WORSHIP, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE US AND ABROAD. WATER WELLS AND HAND PUMPS WERE CONSTRUCTED IN ALL REGIONS OF THE WORLD, MAINLY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND IN MENA (I.E. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA). THE PURPOSE OF THE WATER PROJECTS IS ACCESS TO FRESH WATER, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE. ALSO, HELP THEM TO WATER THEIR AGRICULTURAL LAND AND LIVESTOCK, TOWARDS A VISION OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING.
- $4.7 million spent. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAMS:ZAKAT FOUNDATION OF AMERICA PROVIDES RAPID RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES CAUSED BY BOTH MAN-MADE AND NATURAL DISASTERS. WE OPERATE BASED ON "RESPONSE, RESCUE, RECOVER," TECHNICALLY KNOWN AS "3XR," PROVIDING ESSENTIAL ITEMS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHES, SHELTER, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, AND WEATHER PROTECTION TO DISASTER VICTIMS BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN VARIOUS REGIONS, INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE CONFLICTS HAVE CREATED MILLIONS OF VICTIMS AND REFUGEES, PARTICULARLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN. DESPITE PROHIBITIONS ON RELIEF OPERATIONS, THE ZAKAT FOUNDATION MANAGED TO DELIVER HOT MEALS IN COLLABORATION WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE RED CROSS, RED CRESCENT, THE UNITED NATIONS, AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS.ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION HAS AIDED VICTIMS OF EARTHQUAKES IN AFGHANISTAN; FLOODS IN MOROCCO AND LIBYA; HURRICANES IN THE US; AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS GLOBALLY AND WITHIN THE USA, PROVIDING RELIEF TO REFUGEES AND THE HOMELESS.
- $2.2 million spent. HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS: COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS WERE DELIVERED TO THE POOR, NEEDY, DISPLACED, AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE ACROSS ALL INHABITED CONTINENTS. SERVICES INCLUDED PREVENTIVE TREATMENTS, HEALTH EDUCATION, REHABILITATIVE INTERVENTIONS, NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING, CHRONIC ILLNESS TREATMENTS, AND DEVELOPMENTAL TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.THE ZAKAT FOUNDATION PLACES A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND HAS ESTABLISHED THE KHALIL CENTER TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AMONG THE POOR IN THE US AND ABROAD. ADDITIONALLY, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND GENERAL SANITIZATION ITEMS WERE DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) PROGRAM.OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE ESTABLISHING SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTERS (VTC), AND HIGHER EDUCATION INITIATIVES. WE ALSO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS IN COLLABORATION WITH ACCREDITED UNIVERSITIES IN THE US. THESE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AIM TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY TARGETING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND SINGLE PARENTS BY PROVIDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO ENABLE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
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 February 2003.
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.