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Afs-Usa Inc

EIN 39-1711417 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AFS-USA WORKS TOWARD A MORE JUST AND PEACEFUL WORLD BY PROVIDING INTERNATIONAL AND INTERCULTURAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH A GLOBAL VOLUNTEER PARTNERSHIP. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)AFS-USA EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO BECOME GLOBALLY ENGAGED CITIZENS BY DELIVERING MEANINGFUL INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO HELP CREATE A MORE JUST AND PEACEFUL WORLD. AFS PROGRAMS FOSTER TRANSFORMATION THAT LASTS A LIFETIME. TODAY'S EXCHANGE STUDENTS ARE TOMORROW'S CHANGEMAKERS: DIPLOMATS; THOUGHT LEADERS; INFLUENCERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT COMMUNITIES. EVERY NEW EXCHANGE STUDENT IS ANOTHER GLOBAL CITIZEN IN PROGRESS --AN INDIVIDUAL PRIMED TO HELP BUILD A MORE JUST AND PEACEFUL WORLD. AND THE IMPACT DOESN'T STOP WITH THE STUDENTS. HOST FAMILIES' LIVES ARE TRANSFORMED BY NEW MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE AND HOST COMMUNITIES GAIN GREATER CULTURAL DIVERSITY.

Income
$25.4 million
Spending
$28.8 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
183
Volunteers
2,650
Highest pay
$337,630, president & ceo

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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 52% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 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 (2)
  1. $23.9 million spent. AFS-USA PROMOTES INTERCULTURAL LEARNING THROUGH WORLDWIDE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS. IN SO DOING, IT RELIES ON VOLUNTEERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE HOST FAMILIES AND SUPPORT AFS PARTICIPANTS AND ON THE AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANTS. AFS-USA WORKS PRIMARILY WITH AFS ORGANIZATIONS IN MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES, WHICH, IN TURN, SELECT PARTICIPANTS TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES AND WHICH PROVIDE HOSTING SITUATIONS FOR AMERICANS GOING ABROAD. AFS-USA IS AN INDEPENDENT, SELF-GOVERNED U.S. ORGANIZATION AND PARTICIPATES AS A MEMBER OF THE GLOBAL AFS NETWORK THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH AFS INTERCULTURAL PROGRAMS, INC. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O).FOR AMERICANS GOING ABROAD, AFS-USA OFFERS SCHOOL YEAR, SEMESTER, SUMMER AND A GROWING NUMBER OF SHORT PROGRAMS. FROM THE PARTICIPANT FEES IT COLLECTS, AFS-USA PROVIDES SELECTION, ORIENTATION, INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, AND LIAISON WITH AFS OFFICES ABROAD DURING THE PROGRAM. FROM THESE FEES, IT ALSO PAYS THE OVERSEAS AFS PARTNER A HOSTING FEE TO PROVIDE PROGRAM SERVICES WHILE THE AMERICAN PARTICIPANTS ARE RESIDING IN THE OVERSEAS COUNTRY. AFS-USA ALSO HOSTS PARTICIPANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES ON PROGRAMS OF VARYING LENGTHS, INCLUDING SCHOOL YEAR, SEMESTER OR PROGRAMS OF SHORTER DURATION. FOR THESE PROGRAMS, IT COLLECTS A HOSTING FEE FROM THE SENDING AFS ORGANIZATION AND PROVIDES SERVICES SUCH AS FINDING HOST FAMILIES, PROVIDING ORIENTATIONS, ARRANGING DOMESTIC TRAVEL, AND OFFERING COUNSELING SUPPORT DURING THE STAY. AFS-USA SENT 451 PARTICIPANTS ABROAD IN FY25.
  2. $1.9 million spent. VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES - AFS-USA HAS A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 2,650 U.S. VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND THEIR HOST FAMILIES, SUPPORT U.S. STUDENTS WHO WANT TO STUDY ABROAD AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WORK WITH EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OTHERS THROUGH ACTIVITIES IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEERS INCREASE AWARENESS FOR AFS PROGRAMS AND THE NEED FOR AMERICANS TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AND INTERCULTURAL LEARNING AS A WAY TO FULFILL THE AFS MISSION OF HELPING TO BUILD A MORE JUST AND PEACEFUL WORLD.

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 December 1995.

    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.