Roots Ethiopia Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ROOTS ETHIOPIA IS A NON-PROFIT THAT EXISTS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ACCESS TO WORK AND EDUCATION ARE THE FOUNDATIONS FOR BUILDING A POVERTY-FREE WORLD. WE BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE NO BARRIERS TO ETHIOPIAN FAMILIES SUCCEEDING IN WORK AND SCHOOL. WE ASSIST FAMILIES TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, WE SUPPORT WOMEN TO CREATE VALUABLE LOCAL MARKET WORK, AND WE JOIN WITH COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOLS, SO EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO LEARN.
- Income
- $523,900
- Spending
- $754,153
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 7
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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 44% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $237,784 spent. ROOTS ETHIOPIA'S LEARNING RESOURCE PROJECTS (LRPS) ARE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN UNDER-RESOURCED RURAL SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL MATERIALS, CAPACITY-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. THE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA.IN 2024, ROOTS ETHIOPIA SUPPORTED 30 RURAL SCHOOLS THAT COLLECTIVELY SERVE MORE THAN 10,000 STUDENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. CORE INTERVENTIONS INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF TEACHING MATERIALS, SCIENCE AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT, LIBRARY RESOURCES, AND TARGETED TUTORIAL PROGRAMS FOR GRADE 8 STUDENTS IN 30 LRP SCHOOLS. ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES ADVANCED HOLISTIC STUDENT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH YOUTH SPORTS AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, WHILE ALSO ENSURING IMPROVED ACCESS TO SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH THE REPAIR OF SUBSTANDARD FACILITIES.SPECIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2024 INCLUDED: EQUIPPING 7 PRE-PRIMARY CLASSROOMS WITH AGE-APPROPRIATE TEACHING MATERIALS AND FURNITURE. SUPPORTING 4 SCHOOLS WITH TAILORED LITERACY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES. DELIVERING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO OVER 210 EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL STAFF, INCLUDING PRE-PRIMARY FACILITATORS AND SCIENCE TEACHERS. ESTABLISHING 4 YOUTH SPORTS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE PHYSICAL WELL-BEING, TEAMWORK, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. STRENGTHENING SCHOOL LIBRARIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS AND FOSTER A CULTURE OF LEARNING. LAUNCHING A NEW INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH A CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, ADDRESSING AN URGENT GAP IN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION.TOGETHER, THESE INVESTMENTS DEMONSTRATE ROOTS ETHIOPIA'S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING EQUITABLE, HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND TO EMPOWERING BOTH STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS WITH THE RESOURCES, SKILLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES NEEDED FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS.
- $147,843 spent. THE SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES VITAL RESOURCES THAT ENABLE STUDENTS FROM VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS TO ACCESS, REMAIN IN, AND EXCEL WITHIN QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. FROM JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2024, ROOTS ETHIOPIA SUPPORTED 220 STUDENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, DELIVERING MEASURABLE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL OUTCOMES.THE IMPACT IS CLEAR: EIGHT SPONSORED STUDENTS ARE NOW ENROLLED IN HIGHER EDUCATION, AND ONE HAS SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY. FORTY-NINE STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY RANKED IN THE TOP 10 PERCENT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASSES, WHILE 91 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS RECORDED IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. ATTENDANCE ALSO SHOWED REMARKABLE PROGRESS, WITH 96 PERCENT OF SPONSORED STUDENTS IMPROVING THEIR CONSISTENCY IN SCHOOL.RECOGNIZING THE ECONOMIC PRESSURES FACED BY FAMILIES, THE PROGRAM ALSO EXTENDED TARGETED FOOD SUPPORT TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF SOARING INFLATION. THIS INTERVENTION REDUCED THE NEED FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN DAILY WAGE LABOR, THEREBY SAFEGUARDING THEIR RIGHT TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL AND FOCUS ON THEIR EDUCATION.
- $96,220 spent. IN RESPONSE TO THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF CONSECUTIVE DROUGHTS ACROSS ROOTS ETHIOPIA'S AREAS OF OPERATION, THE ORGANIZATION MOBILIZED RAPID HUMANITARIAN RELIEF TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND DIGNITY OF VULNERABLE FAMILIES. WORKING IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES, ROOTS ETHIOPIA'S FIELD TEAMS ENSURED THAT AID REACHED THOSE MOST ACUTELY AFFECTED.BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2024, EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE WAS DELIVERED TO MORE THAN 6,400 INDIVIDUALS, REPRESENTING OVER 1,060 FAMILIES FACING ACUTE FOOD INSECURITY. EACH HOUSEHOLD RECEIVED A CAREFULLY DESIGNED RELIEF PACKAGE THAT INCLUDED STAPLE FOOD SUPPLIES SUCH AS CORN, ESSENTIAL COOKING OIL, AND TARGETED CASH TRANSFERS TO MEET URGENT HOUSEHOLD NEEDS. THIS APPROACH NOT ONLY ADDRESSED IMMEDIATE HUNGER BUT ALSO ENABLED FAMILIES TO EXERCISE CHOICE AND DIGNITY IN MEETING THEIR MOST PRESSING PRIORITIES.THE INTERVENTION WAS CRITICAL IN MITIGATING THE RISK OF MALNUTRITION, ESPECIALLY AMONG CHILDREN, PREGNANT AND LACTATING MOTHERS, AND OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS. BEYOND FOOD SECURITY, THE PROGRAM ALSO STRENGTHENED COMMUNITY RESILIENCE BY REINFORCING TRUST AND COOPERATION BETWEEN LOCAL LEADERS, HOUSEHOLDS, AND HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS.ROOTS ETHIOPIA REMAINS COMMITTED TO COMPLEMENTING SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY RELIEF WITH LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESENSURING THAT FAMILIES NOT ONLY SURVIVE IMMEDIATE SHOCKS BUT ARE ALSO BETTER PREPARED TO WITHSTAND FUTURE CLIMATE-RELATED CRISES.
- $139,607 spent. SELF-HELP ENTREPRENEURIAL GROUPS (SHE)FORMERLY KNOWN AS INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES AND SELF-HELP SAVINGS GROUPSARE A CORNERSTONE OF ROOTS ETHIOPIA'S LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMMING. THESE GROUPS ENABLE WOMEN FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO LAUNCH AND SUSTAIN SMALL-SCALE ENTERPRISES WHILE BUILDING SAVINGS, THEREBY CREATING PATHWAYS TO LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SECURITY AND RESILIENCE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.FROM JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2024, 80 SHE GROUPS WERE ACTIVELY OPERATING ACROSS ROOTS ETHIOPIA'S PROGRAM AREAS, DIRECTLY ENGAGING 1,600 WOMEN IN LOCAL MARKET-BASED BUSINESSES. THESE WOMEN ARE COLLECTIVELY STRENGTHENING HOUSEHOLD INCOME STREAMS, EXPANDING SAVINGS CAPACITY, AND INVESTING IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND HEALTH.TO ENHANCE SKILLS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, FOUR TARGETED BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, LIFE SKILLS, AND BASIC LEADERSHIP TRAININGS WERE DELIVERED TO SHE MEMBERS DURING THE YEAR. FURTHERMORE, 11 COMMUNITY FACILITATORS WERE TRAINED TO PROVIDE ONGOING SUPERVISION, MENTORSHIP, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE GROUPS, ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY, GROWTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY.THE SHE MODELS NOT ONLY IMPROVES WOMEN'S ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE BUT ALSO STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY AND CREATES A MULTIPLIER EFFECTELEVATING ENTIRE HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES TOWARD GREATER STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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