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Gems Development Foundation

EIN 46-4879465 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWERING HOPE. CULTIVATING OPPORTUNITY: GEMS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOCUSES ON ONNECTING PEOPLE IN NEED WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WILL MAKE THE MOST MEASURABLE IMPACTS FOR USTAINABLE FINANCIAL SECURITY, FOODSECURITY, CLEAN WATER, AND MEDICAL CARE. GEMS PROGRAMS ELIVER LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO WORK TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TO BECOME SELF-SUSTAINING.

Income
$67,769
Spending
$62,947
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Highest pay
$12,000, executive director

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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 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 7% of income.

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)
  1. $42,004 spent. SUSTAINABLE FARMS, CLEAN WATER AND WELLS: HAVING A STABLE FOOD SUPPLY IS A CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL STABILITY IN THIS FRAGILE REGION. THE PROCESS OF GOING TO FETCH WATER IS A LONG AND ARDUOUS ONE AND USUALLY FALLS TO YOUNG GIRLS. THEY MUST TRAVEL HOURS IN EACH DIRECTION, FACING WILD ANIMALS, PRECARIOUS TERRAIN, AND EVEN PREDATORY ADULTS. EVEN IF THEIR JOURNEY IS A "SAFE" ONE, THEY MISS SCHOOL, PUTTING THEM BEHIND. PART OF THIS INITIATIVE IS THE INSTALLATION OF WELLS FOR CLEAN, UNCOMTAMINATED WATER RIGHT IN THE VILLAGES OF SOUTH SUDAN WHERE THEY ARE SO DESPARATELY NEEDED.
  2. $3,200 spent. GOATS: GEMS PROVIDES GOATS AND OTHER LIVESTOCK TO PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD TO FOSTER BASIC NUTRITIONAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND EDUCATES FARMERS ON SUSTAINABLE CARE AND HUSBANDRY PRACTICES. ONE GOAT OPENS A WORLD OF SURVIVAL AND ALLOWS A FAMILY TO HAVE THE SAFETY NET TO PURSUE EDUCATION AND MICRO-BUSINESS. NEIGHBORS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO START SMALL LOCAL DAIRIES, CREATING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES AND BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HUNGER AND EXTREME POVERTY. THE ORGANIZATION HAS GIVEN OUT 4000 GOATS TO RETURNING SLAVES AND INDENTURED SERVANTS FROM THE NORTH, AS WELL AS TO HUNGRY FAMILIES AND TEACHERS WITHIN TWENTY-FIVE MILES OF THE BORDER OF THAT AREA.
  3. MEDICINE: GEMS PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND THE DELIVERY OF MUCH-NEEDED MEDICAL SERVICES AND SUPPLIES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.

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

  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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2017.

    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 November 2018.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: C I S Development Foundation Inc (New York, NY), EIN 22-3304404. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.