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Zara Aina

EIN 46-0868681 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Zara Aina helps at-risk children expand their capacity for achievement through theatrical performance and storytelling.

Income
$92,199
Spending
$68,611
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3

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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 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 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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 84% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $68,611 spent. Youth Company & Antananarivo Clubhouse: The Center provided Zara Ainas signature theatrical and dance programming. The Zara Aina Center continued their partnerships with fellow NGO, Manda, the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Antananarivo, The British School, and the local grocery chain, Bii (formerly Foodwise), Diary Nofy: a project of Teach for Madagascar, and Un Enfant Par La Main. The students continued taking English and French classes and doing vigorous test prep throughout 2024. The Malagasy Staff exposed the students to numerous professional arts workshops (ex. film class). There was a death of one of our students and we built a bench in her honor. (there is a wire transfer for this) The ZA 4th years took a tour to and around Toliara. There is an additional wire transfer for this in July.The ZA team takes on 40 new students into the first year program.United StatesAt the end of June, a team of 8 teachers returned to Camden, Alabama for a week-long workshop and original show with 40 students in the BAMA Kids organization. They created a beautiful show about DREAMS.Caroline, Deirdre, and Henry went to Madagascar with CultureConnect in July for 3 weeks. There are not a lot of expenses connected to this trip except some supply charges/gifts for Mada staff. We also took out cash in the country to buy gifts to later resell at our October fundraiser event in NYC. We had an in person fundraiser on October 13th in NYC at the West End Theatre. We received donations via paypal and ZEFFY in the month of October. We raised roughly $15,000. Five teaching artists also taught at the annual Madagascar Day at Rhinebeck School in October. Artists created scenes from a folktale with roughly 50 middle school students. (we have not received the check from Rhinebeck (Duchess). The US development team will run a successful End of Year Campaign to fund the 2025 year ahead including a tour in Madagascar in 2025 and some improvements for the Center.
  2. Mobile Library: Launched in 2016 in partnership with the UK-based Vape Club, Zara Ainas Mobile Library project distributes useful books to rural villages across four regions of Madagascar. The books focus on practical knowledge such as ways to improve agricultural practices, family relations and health, environmental issues, sexual health, DIY and trades. In 2018, the Mobile Library continued to distribute seeds and fruit trees to participating communities, along with literature about care and cultivation.When the Library is not actively engaged in a tour, the van is used by Zara Aina staff to transport the Youth Company and Zara Aina oversees the overall operation of the Program and provides administrative support to Library staff.
  3. Zara Aina-workshops:The US teaching artist taught at the annual Madagascar Day at Rhinebeck School.Artists created scenes from a folktale with roughly 50 middle school students.
  4. MADA New Center: Through numerous COVID-related delays, the Staff continued working through the threestages of obtaining building permits to begin construction on the new permanent ZaraAina Center, for which we completed our Capital Campaign at the end of 2020. Theycompleted all permits and began construction on the New Center. By December 2022,the staff broke ground, completing a Malagasy ritual to bless the land.

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 March 2015.

    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.