American Institute of Afghanistan Studies
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE RESEARCH AND ADVANCED STUDY OF AFGHANISTAN AND ITS REGION.
- Income
- $91,274
- Spending
- $203,341
- Reserves
- 21.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Highest pay
- $30,800, country dire
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 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 (1)
- $136,922 spent. PRESIDENTS REPORT SINCE THE CLOSING OF THE KABUL OFFICE CLOSED, AIAS HAS HAD TO REORIENT WHERE ITS MONEY WOULD GO. THE AMOUNT OF FELLOWSHIPS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AS AIAS IS ABLE TO DEDICATE MORE FUNDING FOR FELLOWSHIPS AND DECIDED TO FUND RESEARCH ON AFGHANISTAN FROM WITHIN THE U.S. INSTEAD OF AFGHANISTAN. DR. BARFIELD SHARED WHO THE 2024 FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS WERE; ALL AWARDS ARE NOTED IN THE YEAR IN REVIEW REPORT. AIAS GRANTED 5 CAORC AWARDS AND 4 AIAS-FUNDED AWARDS. THIS YEAR WAS A HIGHER NUMBER OF AWARDS THAN PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO BEING ABLE TO OBLIGATE MORE FUNDING TO FELLOWSHIPS THAN PROGRAMMING. AIAS TRIES TO BE AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF RESEARCH IT IS FUNDING AND CAN RETURN TO THE CONVERSATION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO SUPPORT RESEARCH FROM WITHIN AFGHANISTAN. DR. BARFIELD SHARED THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF FUNDING RESEARCH TRAVEL GRANTS TO AFGHANISTAN AGAIN OR RESEARCH FROM WITHIN AFGHANISTAN AGAIN.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 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 July 2004.
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.