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African American Chamber of Commerce

EIN 39-1768969 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CHAMPION THE GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.OUR VISION - STRONG AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS THAT PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC VIBRANCY OF OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WORKPLACE.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
6
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$144,698, ceo

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

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 83% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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 (2)
  1. $499,427 spent. THE CHAMBER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY, A VOICE IN GOVERNMENT, NETWORKING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND CUSTOMER REFERRALS. THE FACILITY PROVIDES A CO-WORKING SPACE FOR MEMBERS.IN ADDITION, THE CHAMBER HAS A REVOLVING LOAN FUND THAT IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR EXISTING AND NEW MINORITY BUSINESSES, WHILE DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. SOME LOANS ARE FINANCED THROUGH KIVA U.S., AN INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT THAT ENABLES FINANCIALLY EXCLUDED AND SOCIALLY IMPACTFUL ENTREPRENEURS TO ACCESS 0% INTEREST SMALL BUSINESS LOANS OF UP TO $10K.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LISC, THE CHAMBER PROVIDES GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
  2. $660,414 spent. RISE MKE POWERED BY MORTAR - A 14-WEEK ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT EMERGING BUSINESSES DON'T START BLINDLY, PROVIDING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WITH A FOCUS ON MARKETING, BRANDING, BUSINESS NETWORK DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. RISE WAS ADAPTED FROM THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CINCINNATI BASED MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM CALLED MORTAR. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER HAS FORMED A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LISC MILWAUKEE AND THE MILWAUKEE URBAN LEAGUE AS A COMPONENT OF THE RAMP UP PROJECT. RISE CURRICULUM WILL FOCUS ON ENABLING UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH EDUCATION, GUIDANCE, AND MENTORSHIP. SPUR - CAPACITY BUILDING INTENSIVE WORKSHOP SERIES DESIGN BASED ON RESEARCH FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE ABOUT THE NEEDS AND CRITICAL ISSUES OF SMALL BUSINESSES. THERE ARE THREE PRIMARY COMPONENTS 1)WORKSHOP SESSIONS; 2)SMALL GROUP ADVISORY ROUNDTABLES; 3)TARGETED NETWORKING SESSIONS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SMALL BUSINESSES WITH FOCUSED CUSTOMIZED TRAINING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ADDRESS THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

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 January 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.

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