Arab American Friendship Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to build trusting relationships between local volunteers and staff and immigrants in the Dearborn community particularly those from Arab countries by providing high quality ESL teaching and services excellent and complete US citizenship training and application assistance. We also seek to facilitate relationships between Arab residents and local English-speaking residents by offering Arabic training to English speakers.
- Income
- $257,245
- Spending
- $143,922
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 11.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $47,684, 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
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
- $94,000 spent. Taught English to 148 students in daytime classes each 1-1 2 hours 4 days week over two semesters covering beginners level and students at levels 1 2 3 and 4. Taught Beginners and Level 2 to 24 students during evening classes 2 hrs each 3 days week. Recruited trained and supervised 28 volunteers. Conducted daily speech practice with approximately 60 students during summer months. Held coffee talk times with students for 1 2 hr before or after classes.
- $30,052 spent. Wrote organized and published a volume of the first 15 lessons in Arabic; taught 44 students ranging mostly from beginner to strong intermediate levels including reading and writing for intermediate level. Classes are 1.5 hours and 2 hours weekly depending on the program students have selected.
- $1,000 spent. Assisted 2 students with Applications for citizenship trained them for 3 hours weekly on US history governance and structure and the geography of the USA. Attended Immigration interviews examinations with one of them. Both passed successfully. Conducted weekly seminars for 10-15 students considering later citizenship classes.
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 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 January 1998.
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.