Tarkanfi-Start Walking
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Community development and poverty reduction in Ethiopia. Our service to the poorest is inspired by Christ. 1. Tarkanfi-Start Walking (TSW) provides poor communities in Ethiopia with a gifted community development leader and teacher -- a volunteer missionary who is a US citizen , a native Ethiopian, and a community development professional. This volunteer missionary serves as the unpaid CEO of the Ethiopian non-profit, Tarkanfi Sustainable Development (TSD). In addition, she manages compassionate activities beyond the scope of TSD, networks widely, welcomes international guests, and educates audiences about the condition of impoverished people in Ethiopia. 2. Tarkanfi-Start Walking (TSW) provides funds for community development, poverty reduction, and emergency relief activities in Ethiopia.
- Income
- $37,497
- Spending
- $45,331
- Reserves
- 3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 December 31, 2025, 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 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 (3)
- $33,000 spent. Education: We provided $38,000 to TSD towards improving conditions at Awaro Primary School: 1.) $30,000 towards construction and and equipping a block of 4 classrooms. Prior to construction, the school's one large classroom was deplorably inadequate - crumbling mud walls, leaking roof, large pool of standing water at the "teacher end" of the room, and no desks. The fully equipped classrooms are now serving 400 students in shifts. (We hope to help build more classrooms for this school!) 2. $3,000 towards construction of teacher accommodations (basically bedrooms) at this REMOTE school. Teachers now sleep at the school Sunday thru Thursday nights, only returning to their homes on the weekends. Without these bedrooms, the school has no steady teachers -- no education !!!
- $5,000 spent. Community Development Leadership: We provided $5,000 to our volunteer missionary to help with field expenses. This volunteer missionary serves as the unpaid CEO of the Ethiopian non-profit, Tarkanfi Sustainable Development (TSD). She also manages compassionate activities beyond the scope of TSD, networks widely, welcomes international guests, and educates audiences about the condition of impoverished people in Ethiopia.
- $3,000 spent. Education: We provided $3,000 to TSD to help sponsor 30 orphaned students so they could remain in school.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.