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American Mandarin Society

EIN 45-5532705 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN MANDARIN SOCIETY'S MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN AMERICAN CAPACITY FOR EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA. AMS DOES THIS BY HELPING AMERICANS WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM STUDY AND WORK IN CHINESE-SPEAKING SOCIETIES STAY DEEPLY IN TOUCH WITH THE ASIA REGION, MAINTAIN AND DEVELOP THEIR MANDARIN CHINESE LANGUAGE SKILLS, AND BUILD THE PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO ENGAGE IN THE VITAL WORK OF STRENGTHENING THE UNITED STATES TIES WITH ASIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

Income
$259,468
Spending
$332,158
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$84,000, executive di

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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    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 (1)
  1. $312,380 spent. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS EDITED AND MAINTAINED A SERIES OF BILINGUAL CHINA STUDIES SYLLABI NEWSLETTER & WEBSITE PRODUCED AN EDUCATIONAL WEBSITE, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT RELATING TO LANGUAGE LEARNING AND POLICY ISSUES. AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHINA LEADERSHIP FELLOWS PROGRAM RAN A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR CHINA-FOCUSED AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS ONLINE CHINESE CLASS HOSTED AND CONDUCTED AN ONLINE CHINESE CLASS FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS AMS FELLOWS POLICY TRAINING PROGRAM RAN THE AMS FELLOWS PROGRAM, AN ADVANCED LANGUAGE AND POLICY EDUCATION PROGRAM HELD AT THE SHANGHAI ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTE NEXT-GENERATION JOURNALISM PROGRAM SUPPORTED YOUNG AMERICAN JOURNALISTS THROUGH TAILORED MENTORSHIPS WITH RENOWNED MEDIA PROFESSIONALS. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS EDITED AND MAINTAINED A SERIES OF BILINGUAL CHINA STUDIES SYLLABI NEWSLETTER & WEBSITE PRODUCED AN EDUCATIONAL WEBSITE, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT RELATING TO LANGUAGE LEARNING AND POLICY ISSUES. AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHINA LEADERSHIP FELLOWS PROGRAM RAN A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR CHINA-FOCUSED AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS ONLINE CHINESE CLASS HOSTED AND CONDUCTED AN ONLINE CHINESE CLASS FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS AMS FELLOWS POLICY TRAINING PROGRAM RAN THE AMS FELLOWS PROGRAM, AN ADVANCED LANGUAGE AND POLICY EDUCATION PROGRAM HELD AT THE SHANGHAI ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTE NEXT-GENERATION JOURNALISM PROGRAM SUPPORTED YOUNG AMERICAN JOURNALISTS THROUGH TAILORED MENTORSHIPS WITH RENOWNED MEDIA PROFESSIONALS.

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 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 2024.

    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 October 2013.

    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.