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Transparent Fish Fund Inc

EIN 45-2885139 · Los Altos, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRANSPARENT FISH FUND IS A 501(C)(3) US NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 2011 IN PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES TO CONNECT CREDIBLE CHINESE AND EAST ASIAN GRASSROOTS NGOS WITH INDIVIDUALS FROM THE WEST. THE GREATER MISSION BEHIND THIS WORK IS TO FOSTER A SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM NGO CULTURE IN EAST ASIA, AND IN DOING SO, SPREAD A GLOBAL SPIRIT OF PHILANTHROPY.

Income
$292,159
Spending
$255,597
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (1)
  1. $247,000 spent. POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN EAST ASIA: IN 2025, WE CONTINUED OUR IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS ACROSS CHINA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA, SUPPORTING OVER 20 KEY INITIATIVES. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDED REDUCING MATERNAL AND NEONATAL MORTALITY, PROVIDING NUTRITION SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN, AND OFFERING COMPUTER AND STEM EDUCATION TO MIGRANT CHILDREN IN CHINA AND VIETNAM. WE ALSO SUPPORT LIFE-SAVING HEART SURGERIES FOR CHILDREN BORN WITH CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. IN CAMBODIA, WE PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH CLEAN WATER IN SCHOOLS AND PEDIATRIC MEDICAL TRAINING. WHILE IN THAILAND AND, WE PROVIDED HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN AND ORPHANS RESCUED FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IN BURMA, WE ESTABLISHED SAFE SPACES FOR CHILDREN DISPLACED BY CONFLICT AND SUPPORT MEDICS TEAM - AND MUCH MORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 September 2011.

    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.

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.