Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

African-American Business Association Inc

EIN 45-3387003 · Waterloo, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE IOWA CENTER FOR OPPORTUNITY RESOURCES & EQUITY INC.'S MISSION IS TO RESEARCH, ADVOCATE, AND PROCURE RESOURCES FOR HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN IOWA.

Income
$268,344
Spending
$473,713
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 77% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 115% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $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, 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 (5)
  1. $41,197 spent. RETHINK IOWA FELLOWSHIP - COMMUNITY-LED RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP THAT INCLUDES WEEKLY ENGAGEMENTS WITH UNDERREPRESENTED ENTREPRENEURS IN IOWA, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS WITH TECHNICAL EXPERTS, AND PUBLIC/ PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERSHIP TALENT DEVELOPMENT. SUCCESS IS MEASURED THROUGH AUTHENTIC STORYTELLING, RESILIENT HUMAN POTENTIAL, AND EQUITABLE POLICY MAKING. FELLOWSHIP PARTICIPANTS ALSO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH TO REDUCE SOCIAL WELFARE BARRIERS AND IMPROVE THE WELLBEING OF HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES. THANKS TO ANNUAL DONATIONS OF IN-KIND SERVICES AND SUPPORT RESOURCES FROM THE MRG IMPACT FUND - NONGRANTOR CHARITABLE LEAD UNITRUST THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN A CATALYST TO INNOVATION AND PARTICIPATORY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS. LEARN MORE - HTTPS://RETHINKIOWA.ORG
  2. $379,603 spent. BLACK CAPITAL STUDY + PROJECTS - THE BLACK CAPTIAL STUDY + PROJECTS (BCS+P) CONSISTS OF 18+ ACTIVE PROJECTS IN SERVICE OF BUILDING CAPACITY FOR TRADITIONAL MONETARY CAPITAL ACCESS AS WELL AS NON-MONETARY TYPES OF CAPITAL FOR AN INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM IN AND CONNECTED TO WATERLOO, IOWA. EACH PROJECT DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO FOUR COMPONENTS: A) EVOLVING CURRICULUM/TECHNICAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT; B) RESPONSIVE PROGRAM DELIVERY; 3) RIGOROUS RESEARCH AND 4) TRUSTWORTHY COMMUNICATION. THANKS TO GRANT FUNDS INVESTED BY THE EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION, AND DONATIONS OF IN-KIND SERVICES AND SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA - JOHN PAPPAJOHN ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER THIS 3-YEAR RESEARCH STUDY WILL PUBLISH ITS FINDINGS IN OR ABOUT JULY 2025 FOR INCLUSIVE ECOSYSTEMS TO THRIVE AROUND THE WORLD. LEARN MORE - HTTPS://WWW.BLACKCAPITALSTUDY.ORG. BLACK CAPITAL STUDY + PROJECTS - THE BLACK CAPTIAL STUDY + PROJECTS (BCS+P) CONSISTS OF 18+ ACTIVE PROJECTS IN SERVICE OF BUILDING CAPACITY FOR TRADITIONAL MONETARY CAPITAL ACCESS AS WELL AS NON-MONETARY TYPES OF CAPITAL FOR AN INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM IN AND CONNECTED TO WATERLOO, IOWA. EACH PROJECT DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO FOUR COMPONENTS: A) EVOLVING CURRICULUM/TECHNICAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT; B) RESPONSIVE PROGRAM DELIVERY; 3) RIGOROUS RESEARCH AND 4) TRUSTWORTHY COMMUNICATION. THANKS TO GRANT FUNDS INVESTED BY THE EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION, AND DONATIONS OF IN-KIND SERVICES AND SUPPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA - JOHN PAPPAJOHN ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER THIS 3-YEAR RESEARCH STUDY WILL PUBLISH ITS FINDINGS IN OR ABOUT JULY 2025 FOR INCLUSIVE ECOSYSTEMS TO THRIVE AROUND THE WORLD. LEARN MORE - HTTPS://WWW.BLACKCAPITALSTUDY.ORG.
  3. $13,291 spent. SHOP BLACK IOWA - A CURATED E-COMMERCE MARKETPLACE FOR HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED SMALL BUSINESSES IN IOWA THAT ALLOWS CUSTOMERS FROM IOWA AND OTHER STATES TO PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES THAT SHOWCASE IOWA'S DIVERSE ECONOMY. ANY SMALL BUSINESS THAT IS AT LEAST 51% OWNED BY ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY SUBJECTED TO RACIAL OR ETHNIC PREJUDICES OR CULTURAL BIASES WITHIN THE LARGER AMERICAN CULTURE HAVE ACCESS TO A TRUSTED E-COMMERCE MARKETPLACE AND RESOURCES THAT IS A DESTINATION FOR ALL. SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES REGISTERED TO SELL ON THE ONLINE PLATFORM, THE NUMBER OF ITEMS THEY PUBLISH FOR E-COMMERCE, AND ACCUMULATED CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT / OUTREACH ENGAGEMENTS. THANKS TO DONATIONS OF IN-KIND SUPPORT FROM MEMBER MARKETPLACE INC. AND LOCAL SPONSORS, THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE REGISTRATION AND COSTS ARE SUBSIDIZED FOR THE FIRST 100 BUSINESSES THAT REGISTER FOR THE PLATFORM. CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 BUSINESSES REGISTERED. LEARN MORE - HTTPS://RETHINKIOWA.SHOPWHEREILIVE.COM/ SHOP BLACK IOWA - A CURATED E-COMMERCE MARKETPLACE FOR HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED SMALL BUSINESSES IN IOWA THAT ALLOWS CUSTOMERS FROM IOWA AND OTHER STATES TO PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES THAT SHOWCASE IOWA'S DIVERSE ECONOMY. ANY SMALL BUSINESS THAT IS AT LEAST 51% OWNED BY ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY SUBJECTED TO RACIAL OR ETHNIC PREJUDICES OR CULTURAL BIASES WITHIN THE LARGER AMERICAN CULTURE HAVE ACCESS TO A TRUSTED E-COMMERCE MARKETPLACE AND RESOURCES THAT IS A DESTINATION FOR ALL. SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES REGISTERED TO SELL ON THE ONLINE PLATFORM, THE NUMBER OF ITEMS THEY PUBLISH FOR E-COMMERCE, AND ACCUMULATED CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT / OUTREACH ENGAGEMENTS. THANKS TO DONATIONS OF IN-KIND SUPPORT FROM MEMBER MARKETPLACE INC. AND LOCAL SPONSORS, THE ONLINE MARKETPLACE REGISTRATION AND COSTS ARE SUBSIDIZED FOR THE FIRST 100 BUSINESSES THAT REGISTER FOR THE PLATFORM. CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 BUSINESSES REGISTERED. LEARN MORE - HTTPS://RETHINKIOWA.SHOPWHEREILIVE.COM/
  4. $3,907 spent. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE / IMPACT INCUBATOR - AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM THAT OPENS DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED POPULATIONS TO DEVELOP SERVANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS, DESIGN SOLUTIONS TO THAT IMPACT HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND SCALE SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN IOWA. THROUGH AN ASSESSMENT AND THE COMPETITION OF A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, ANY SOCIAL ENTERPRISES ARE ELEVATED TO REVOLUTIONIZE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES, ENSURING LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE BOTH PROFITABLE AND MAKING A POSITIVE SOCIETAL CONTRIBUTION. SUCCESS IS MEASURED THROUGH AN INCLUSIVE ECOSYSTEM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK THAT ACCELERATES INNOVATION, BUILDS SHARED GOVERNANCE, AND PROTECTS COMMUNITY EQUITY. CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 10 SOCIAL ENTERPRISES BEING DEVELOPED OR IN FULL OPERATION, EACH BUSINESS HAS ACCESS TO AN IN-KIND GRANT OF SERVICES AND RESOURCES PROCURED BY RETHINK IOWA LLC, NOT TO EXCEED 2,500 FMV.
  5. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE / IMPACT INCUBATOR - AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM THAT OPENS DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR HISTORICALLY DISENFRANCHISED POPULATIONS TO DEVELOP SERVANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS, DESIGN SOLUTIONS TO THAT IMPACT HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND SCALE SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN IOWA. THROUGH AN ASSESSMENT AND THE COMPETITION OF A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, ANY SOCIAL ENTERPRISES ARE ELEVATED TO REVOLUTIONIZE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES, ENSURING LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE BOTH PROFITABLE AND MAKING A POSITIVE SOCIETAL CONTRIBUTION. SUCCESS IS MEASURED THROUGH AN INCLUSIVE ECOSYSTEM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK THAT ACCELERATES INNOVATION, BUILDS SHARED GOVERNANCE, AND PROTECTS COMMUNITY EQUITY. CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 10 SOCIAL ENTERPRISES BEING DEVELOPED OR IN FULL OPERATION, EACH BUSINESS HAS ACCESS TO AN IN-KIND GRANT OF SERVICES AND RESOURCES PROCURED BY RETHINK IOWA LLC, NOT TO EXCEED 2,500 FMV.

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 December 2013.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: American Bar Association (Chicago, IL), EIN 36-0723150. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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