Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Citizens Foundation USA

EIN 41-2046295 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TCF-USA PROVIDES QUALITY EDUCATION FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN PAKISTAN. THE GOAL IS TO BUILD CIVIL SOCIETY AND PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY. AN ALL-FEMALE FACULTY ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO ENROLL THEIR GIRLS, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CREATING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS FOR THOUSANDS OF WOMEN. TCF GRADUATES ARE PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

Income
$21.7 million
Spending
$20.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
13
Volunteers
378
Highest pay
$153,600, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 (3)
  1. $14.0 million spent. ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES OF SCHOOLS:IN 2024, TCF-USA PROVIDED OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR 534 TCF SCHOOLS. THIS SUPPORT ENABLED THE PROVISION OF QUALITY EDUCATION TO UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN ACROSS PAKISTAN. OPERATIONAL EXPENSES COVERED THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF SCHOOLS, INCLUDING SALARIES FOR PRINCIPALS, TRAINED TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. FUNDING ALSO SUPPORTED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR FEMALE TEACHERS, SERVING IN REMOTE AND UNDERSERVED AREAS. ADDITIONALLY, HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $1.33 MILLION WERE AWARDED TO GRADUATING TCF STUDENTS TO ENABLE THEM TO PURSUE DEGREES IN VARIED FIELDS SUCH AS JOURNALISM, BUSINESS, ENGINEERING, MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE.
  2. $3.3 million spent. CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION: THIS YEAR TCF-USA FUNDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF 17 NEW PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL UNITS IN IMPOVERISHED RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES IN PAKISTAN. EACH NEW CAMPUS ACCOMMODATES UP TO 180 STUDENTS, SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, EIGHT SCHOOLS WERE CONVERTED TO SOLAR ENERGY, CONTRIBUTING TO LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND REDUCED OPERATING COSTS.
  3. $420,522 spent. ENDOWMENTS FOR FUTURE OPERATION OF SCHOOLS: IN 2024, TCF-USA CONTRIBUTED $396,968 TOWARD THE ENDOWMENT OF TCF-BUILT SCHOOLS IN PAKISTAN. THESE FUNDS ENSURE THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF SCHOOL OPERATIONS, HELPING MAINTAIN QUALITY EDUCATION FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN YEAR AFTER YEAR. ENDOWMENT INCOME SUPPORTS RECURRING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, REDUCING RELIANCE ON FUTURE FUNDRAISING.IN ADDITION TO SCHOOL OPERATIONS, TCF-USA HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED ENDOWMENTS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF TCF ALUMNI. THESE SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENTS HELP DESERVING GRADUATES PURSUE UNIVERSITY AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREES, EXTENDING THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT BEYOND SECONDARY EDUCATION.TCF-USA SUPPORTS STRATEGIC PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING. THESE INCLUDE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES, INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PANELS TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER FILTRATION PLANTS AT SCHOOL SITES. NOTABLY, IN THE CASE OF WATER PLANTS, BOTH STUDENTS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.