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Charities Aid Foundation America

EIN 43-1634280 · Alexandria, VA

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

CAF AMERICA'S MISSION IS TO DRIVE GREATER, AND MORE IMPACTFUL, PHILANTHROPIC GIVING ACROSS THE U.S. AND WORLD, CONNECTING DONORS, INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND CORPORATIONS - WITH CHARITIES.

Income
$1.1 billion
Spending
$1.0 billion
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
141
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$453,149, former president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • 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

    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 April 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 (4)
  1. $956.5 million spent. DONOR ADVISED FUNDS: CAF AMERICA SPONSORS DONOR ADVISED FUNDS (DAFS) HELD BY CORPORATE, INDIVIDUAL, AND FOUNDATION CLIENTS. IN FY25 DAF HOLDERS, COMPRISING 705 FUNDS, ADVISED OVER 947,000 GRANTS TOTALING OVER $938M TO RECIPIENTS IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES.
  2. $14.7 million spent. DONOR ADVISED GIFTS: IN FY25, DONORS WORKED WITH CAF AMERICA TO MAKE 833 DONOR ADVISED GIFTS (DAGS) TOTALING $14M. DONOR ADVISED GIFTS ENABLE DONORS TO RECOMMEND GRANTS WITHOUT ESTABLISHING A SPECIFIC FUND AT CAF AMERICA. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AS A COMPLEMENT TO CAF AMERICA'S PHILANTHROPIC ADVISORY SERVICES AND IS A RESOURCE FOR DONORS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING A VARIETY OF CAUSES.
  3. $41.2 million spent. FRIENDS FUNDS: FRIENDS FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO INTERNATIONAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE SUPPORT FROM AMERICAN DONORS. DURING FY25, DONORS WORKED WITH CAF AMERICA TO MAKE 361 GRANTS TO 107 FOREIGN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE ESTABLISHED FRIENDS FUNDS WITH CAF AMERICA. THIS CAF AMERICA PRODUCT AGGREGATES DONATIONS SOLICITED BY FOREIGN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF PRE-APPROVED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS.
  4. REVENUE AND EXPENSES PERTAINING TO THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICES THAT IS NOT ALLOCABLE TO ANY FUND OR TYPE OF FUND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 November 6, 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 April 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 April 1993.

    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 November 4, 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.