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Ghana Make a Difference Inc

EIN 45-5615778 · Star, ID

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Ghana Make a Difference (GMAD) protects children and preserves families by providing a path to self-reliance through shelter, vocational training, life skills, education and medical care; provide vulnerable children (those rescued from child trafficking, abandonment or with other special needs) with a place they can call home while working to reintegrate them with their biological family or place them in a new family; provide education by operating a K-8 school and offering scholarships for secondary, post-secondary, and various vocational schools; and provide vision, dental, and surgical care.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
11.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
2
Volunteers
198
Highest pay
$174,602, executive director

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $630,855 spent. Support an NGO in Ghana (GMAD Ghana): Children's shelter caring for 50 children. Rehabilitation, care and education for children rescued from trafficking and abandonment. Children are placed in the home by the Department of Social Welfare. Employ social workers who work with other agencies and government social workers to place children in families. Reunified 33 children with families. Care for children with special needs via a model of inclusion. A school for elementary and JHS, using technology to teach via a special catch-up curriculum (most children rescued from trafficking have never attended school). Older children attend a UK high school or a vocational school via scholarships. Support deaf children at a deaf boarding school. Grant and oversee 40-50 scholarships for former shelter children who have been reunited with families or who have transitioned into society as adults. 54 full-time employees: social workers, nannies, cooks, facilities, teachers, security, seamstress, bookkeeper, management, nurse, drivers. The staff is a mix of Ghanaians and refugees from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
  2. $332,029 spent. Support an NGO in Ghana (GMAD Ghana): Dental Clinic, Vision Clinic, and Surgical Center. 1,492 surgical, dental and eye procedures - helping people back on the path to employment and self-reliance. Organize and coordinate healthcare missions where healthcare professionals and other volunteers travel to Ghana. 2024 = 1 eye mission, 1 dental mission, and 2 surgical missions. International and domestic volunteers provided 62,376 hours of volunteer service. Collaborate with independent Ghanaian physicians, clinics and hospitals to provide care during, after, and in between volunteer missions.
  3. $143,879 spent. Support an NGO in Ghana (GMAD Ghana): Physical facilities. Construction, maintenance, renovations, repairs, and expansion. Maintain and improve facilities to maximize the productivity of care and education provided to the children. Purchased additional land for additional care and education facilities.

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 October 2012.

    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.