African Career Education & Resources
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ACER IS THE LEADING ISSUE-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION WORKING TO UPLIFT AND AMPLIFY THE AFRICAN DIASPORA TO BUILD POWER FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE THAT ADVANCES RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY IN COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 80%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $141,940, executive director
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 81% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (1)
- $1.9 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O.COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - FROM ETHNIC FOODS TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, BIPOC- AND IMMIGRANT-OWNED SMALL AND MICRO-BUSINESSES ARE THE ECONOMIC BACKBONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS - AND THE REGION. IN 2024, WE CONTINUED OUR WORK PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND SUPPORT FOR COOPERATIVES-WHILE ALSO LAUNCHING NEW TRAININGS FOR ENTREPRENEURS.AT ACER, WE CONNECT BUSINESS OWNERS TO EXPERTS, AT NO COST TO THEM, TO SUPPORT AND COACH THEM THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES AND, IN 2024, WE PROVIDED SERVICES TO 146 BUSINESSES. IN ADDITION, THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONNECTED BUSINESS OWNERS TO OVER $700,000 IN CAPITAL. WE ALSO ENGAGED IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING 227 CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORTING EIGHT STUDENTS AT BROOKLYN CENTER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WITH YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASSES.ACER'S BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY HUB LAUNCHED TWO DISTINCTIVE PROGRAMS IN 2024 TO EMPOWER ENTREPRENEURS WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS, INSIGHTS, AND TOOLS TO TRANSFORM THEIR IDEAS INTO ACTIONABLE BUSINESS VENTURES. NEARLY 30 ASPIRING AND CURRENT BUSINESS OWNERS PARTICIPATED IN THE ACER BOOTCAMP AND ACER CORE PROGRAMS, WHICH FOSTERED A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS TO STRATEGIZE, PROBLEM-SOLVE, AND APPLY BUSINESS BASICS EFFECTIVELY.SOCIAL JUSTICE: HOUSING JUSTICE - AT ACER, WE BELIEVE THAT SAFE, STABLE, AND DIGNIFIED HOUSING IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEED - AND A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT THAT HAS BEEN DENIED TO MANY BIPOC FAMILIES AND MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS. WE WORK DIRECTLY ALONGSIDE RENTERS AND PARTNER WITH FELLOW HOUSING JUSTICE ADVOCATES TO HOLD LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE AND ADVANCE POLICIES THAT INCREASE TENANT POWER.IN 2024, WE SUPPORTED THE POWERFUL RESIDENTS AT SANDER POINT IN ADDRESSING CONCERNS WITH THEIR HOUSING. ALONG WITH THEIR TENANT COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ACER CO-FACILITATED SESSIONS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE ON ORGANIZING, LETTER CAMPAIGNING, POWER MAPPING AND MORE. WE ALSO SECURED A MAJOR WIN AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WORKING WITH THE EQUITY IN PLACE COALITION TO PASS A STATEWIDE TENANTS RIGHT TO ORGANIZE THAT WILL PROVIDE GUARANTEES TO TENANTS TO COME TOGETHER, RAISE THEIR CONCERNS, AND DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO DIGNIFIES, WELL-MAINTAINED HOUSING WITHOUT FACING RETALIATION AND DISPLACEMENT.SOCIAL JUSTICE: CIVIL ENGAGEMENT - AT ACER, WE ELEVATE THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND DECISION-MAKERS SO THAT OUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE DRIVES THE POLICIES THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITIES. FROM GOING TO THE BALLOT BOX TO BEING ENGAGED IN LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WE ENCOURAGE BIPOC RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA TO PARTICIPATE AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS.IN 2024, WE CONTINUED TO BRING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER THROUGH ENGAGING AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, LIKE THE SHINGLE CREEK FAIR. BUT WE WERE ALSO TIRELESSLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS INFORMED ABOUT THEIR VOTING RIGHTS, AND EMPOWERED TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AT THE POLLS. THE CRITICAL SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP OF 15 VOTER ENGAGEMENT AMBASSADORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE 980 HOURS ACER DEDICATED TO KNOCKING MORE THEN 3,155 DOORS, MAKING MORE THAN 22,000 PHONE CALLS AND FOLLOWING 726 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THEIR VOTING JOURNEY.SOCIAL JUSTICE: HEALTH EQUITY - AT ACER, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO ORGANIZE OUR COMMUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR TEAM AIMS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT CAUSE DETRIMENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR BIP0C COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS.IN 2024, WHILE MUCH OF THE ATTENTION WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS HELPING THE COMMUNITY MANAGE THE EFFECTS OF C0VID-19 ON THEIR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, ACER REMAINED COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING VACCINATION AND TESTING INITIATIVES. ACER WORKED ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS CAPI USA AND THE CITIES OF BROOKLYN PARK AND BROOKLYN CENTER TO ORGANIZE HEALTH FAIRS, OFFERING HEALTH RESOURCES AS WELL AS FREE HEALTHCARE CHECK-UPS, TESTING, AND VACCINES.ACER ALSO SUPPORTED MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES SUCH AS REIMAGINE BLACK YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE BY BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF ITS ADVISORY BOARD. IN 2024, THE INITIATIVE IDENTIFIED THE TOP 5 POLICY PRIORITIES FOR BLACK YOUTH TO PROTECT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH
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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2018 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2018.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.