Operation Bootstrap-Africa
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Operation Bootstrap Africa (OBA) partners with Africans to strengthen their future through education, healthcare, agriculture, and other long-term development projects.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $114,650, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 (7)
- $958,320 spent. Educational Operating Grants and Scholarships: *Operation Bootstrap Africa's largest program is the MaaSAE Girls Secondary School (MGLSS) in Monduli, Tanzania. Student sponsorships provide funding for the education of all of the students at this residential school. In its 29th year, the school continues to provide an opportunity for pastoralist and semi-nomadic girls to be educated in a safe and nurturing environment. A monthly grant to the school supports teacher and staff salaries, food, textbooks, utilities, farm production, and other necessary expenses. *Additional scholarship funds were provided for students attending the following institutions: Moringe Sokoine Secondary School in Monduli, Tanzania, Nazarene University, Kitambolu Secondary School in Arusha, Tanzania, Bassodawish school in the Karatu region of Tanzania, Step by Step School, Unambwe Secondary School, Michaud Secondary School, Arusha Lutheran Medical Training Center, Fransalian Hekima Secondary School, and Kiyoora High School in Ntungamo, Uganda. *Medical School scholarships were provided for 6 future doctors to obtain medical degrees at multiple universities throughout Tanzania. *In Madagascar a grant was provided to pay teacher salaries at five primary schools in the rural South. These teachers taught more than 3,000 students in one of the most impoverished areas of the country. *Scholarships were granted to Primary, Secondary, and Post-Secondary students at Eripoto Safe House in Arusha. *Scholarships were provided for pre-school children and Post-Secondary students at the Courage House in Moshi. * Specialty training scholarships in nursing were granted to 3 qualified staff members at the ALMC School of Nursing.
- $428,137 spent. Post-Secondary Education and Leadership Development: *The OBA post-secondary program provides scholarships for graduates of the MaaSAE Girls School through sponsor support. MGLSS graduates pursued degrees at colleges, universities, and vocational schools in Tanzania with scholarships through Operation Bootstrap Africa. Graduates of other local secondary schools also received post-secondary scholarships from OBA.
- $166,700 spent. Healthcare and Health Education: *Grants were provided to the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre School of Nursing to subsidize the high cost of nursing education. Grants were distributed to Partnership of Women and Development for efforts in training the Maasai about the dangers of female genital mutilation. Grants were also provided to Empowered Girls, a non-profit partner that provided menstrual care training and products to multiple school projects in Tanzania including: the Plaster House, MGLSS, Moringe Sokoine, and Olchoki Primary School. *Funding was provided for Tanzania EMS to begin an ambulance dispatch center in Arusha.
- $161,935 spent. Nutrition: Lunch programs for students experiencing hunger because of drought or lack of family resources were continued or established at Olchoki Primary School, Azimio Primary School, Ilboru Special Needs School, and five Malagasy schools.
- $129,925 spent. Construction and Special Projects at Schools in East Africa: *Funding was provided for numerous primary and secondary school projects, including: supplies for five separate Malagasy Schools, two brand new school constructions in Madagascar, dormitory construction at Kiyoora High School in Uganda, and a rural hospital nutrition program. *Funds were also provided for Teacher's Housing and campus building renovations at MGLSS. *Funding was provided to construct a Girl's Dormitory at Masange Juu Secondary School in the Lushoto region of Tanzania. *Construction began at Selian Hospital for a Mother's Unit and Neonatal Ward. *Funding was provided for the "Tiny Feet, Big Steps" International Neonatal Conference in Arusha Tanzania, subsidizing the cost for nurses to attend.
- $108,897 spent. Cultural Education and Exchange: *OBA staff members led tours of their projects in Northern Tanzania in October 2024, Feb 2025, and April 2025 to gain a better understanding of the work and foster connections with the communities with whom they partner.
- $12,361 spent. Long Term Development Projects: * Operation Bootstrap Africa granted the Maasai Girls School a salary for their farm manager. Other funds were also sent for cattle, as well as seeds and equipment. * Funds were also provided for Tanzania Advanced Agriculture, which provides microloans and training for sustainable agriculture all throughout Tanzania.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1966.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.