Aruna Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ARUNA IS A NONPROFIT ATHLEISURE BRAND CREATING LIFELONG FREEDOM FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING BOTH INTERNATIONALLY AND DOMESTICALLY. BY COMBINING THE BEST OF NONPROFIT DIRECT SERVICES AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS, WE "FREE THROUGH EQUIPPING- AND "EMPOWER THROUGH EMPLOYING."
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $134,016, director/ceo
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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 9 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
- $818,775 spent. ARUNA PROJECT CONTINUES TO HELP SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN THE FREEDOM BUSINESS THROUGH STRATEGY, DESIGN, INNOVATION, MARKETING AND SALES OF ATHLEISURE PRODUCTS IN THE US. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO SEE INCREASED GROWTH IN CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT AND SALES OF THE PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY THOSE FREED FROM SEX TRAFFICKING. THIS INCREASE IN SALES HAS ENABLED US TO CONTINUE TO EMPLOY MORE SURVIVORS INTERNATIONALLY AND LOCALLY TO ENSURE LIFELONG FREEDOM IN AN INTERNATIONAL SISTERHOOD OF SURVIVORS WHO ARE THRIVING. AS SALES CONTINUE TO INCREASE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO EMPLOY MORE SURVIVORS IN SUSTAINED EMPLOYMENT WHICH IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO THEIR LIFELONG FREEDOM.
- $503,428 spent. THE FREEDOM BUSINESS, AN ATHLEISURE SOFTGOODS MANUFACTURING COMPANY EMPLOYING SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING IN SOUTH ASIA, HAS A PRIMARY MISSION TO "EMPOWER THROUGH EMPLOYMENT." THE TEAM HAS CONTINUED TO EXCEL. THE NUMBER OF SURVIVORS HAS INCREASED. THE SURVIVORS' OVERALL MENTAL HEALTH HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY. OUR PRODUCTION CAPACITY HAS ALSO INCREASED AS SURVIVORS ARE GROWING IN THEIR SKILLS AND DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS ON THEIR TEAMS. THIS SUSTAINED EMPLOYMENT HAS ENABLED MANY OF THEM TO ENSURE FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE NO LONGER AT RISK FOR BEING TRAFFICKED.
- $253,722 spent. THE OUTREACH CENTERS, SITUATED IN SOME OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF SEX TRAFFICKING IN SOUTH ASIA, SERVE AS THE OUTREACH ARM INTO THE BROTHEL SYSTEMS TO CREATE A PATHWAY TO FREEDOM FOR SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS THROUGH DAILY OUTREACH IN THE AREAS OF TRAFFICKING. THE OUTREACH TEAM WAS ABLE TO EXPAND WORK INTO ADDITIONAL TRAFFICKING AREAS AND PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF TRAFFICKED WOMEN AND HELP FACILITATE FREEDOM TO MANY. ONCE FREED, SURVIVORS ARE INVITED INTO THE TRAINING CENTERS WHERE THEY RECEIVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND ENTRANCE INTO THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. THE TRAINING TEAMS PROVIDE TRAUMA COUNSELING AND CARE, LIFE SKILL TRAINING, AND SOFT GOODS MANUFACTURING TRAINING, ALL IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF HOLISTIC CARE SUPPORTED BY ARUNA'S FOUR PILLARS OF HOLISTIC CARE. THE TRAINING CENTER WAS ABLE TO SEE AN OVER 50% GROWTH IN THE SURVIVORS SERVED, WITH 100% JOB PLACEMENT FOR GRADUATES. THE WORK OF THE OUTREACH TEAMS AND TRAINING TEAMS COMBINE TO "FREE THROUGH EQUIPPING". THE GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED IN SOMERSET EXPORTS WHERE THEY EARN A CAREER WAGE, RETIREMENT SAVINGS, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND ONGOING TRAUMA CARE. SOMERSET WAS ABLE TO BOTH INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SURVIVORS EMPLOYED AS WELL AS PRODUCTION CAPACITY, LAUNCHING MULTIPLE NEW PRODUCTS NOW COMPETING IN THE US ATHLEISURE MARKET. THE WORK OF THE SOMERSET TEAM "EMPOWERS THROUGH EMPLOYMENT". THIS IS ALSO MIRRORED IN THE US TEAM, WHERE US SURVIVORS ARE EMPLOYED TO HELP IN INVENTORY, QUALITY CONTROL, ORDER FULFILLMENT AND CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT. THIS YEAR WE HAVE SEEN THE MOST WOMEN FREED, EMPLOYED, AND EMPOWERED THAN ANY YEAR SINCE ARUNA'S FOUNDING. THE OUTREACH CENTERS, SITUATED IN SOME OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF SEX TRAFFICKING IN SOUTH ASIA, SERVE AS THE OUTREACH ARM INTO THE BROTHEL SYSTEMS TO CREATE A PATHWAY TO FREEDOM FOR SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS THROUGH DAILY OUTREACH IN THE AREAS OF TRAFFICKING. THE OUTREACH TEAM WAS ABLE TO EXPAND WORK INTO ADDITIONAL TRAFFICKING AREAS AND PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF TRAFFICKED WOMEN AND HELP FACILITATE FREEDOM TO MANY. ONCE FREED, SURVIVORS ARE INVITED INTO THE TRAINING CENTERS WHERE THEY RECEIVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND ENTRANCE INTO THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. THE TRAINING TEAMS PROVIDE TRAUMA COUNSELING AND CARE, LIFE SKILL TRAINING, AND SOFT GOODS MANUFACTURING TRAINING, ALL IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF HOLISTIC CARE SUPPORTED BY ARUNA'S FOUR PILLARS OF HOLISTIC CARE. THE TRAINING CENTER WAS ABLE TO SEE AN OVER 50% GROWTH IN THE SURVIVORS SERVED, WITH 100% JOB PLACEMENT FOR GRADUATES. THE WORK OF THE OUTREACH TEAMS AND TRAINING TEAMS COMBINE TO "FREE THROUGH EQUIPPING". THE GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED IN SOMERSET EXPORTS WHERE THEY EARN A CAREER WAGE, RETIREMENT SAVINGS, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND ONGOING TRAUMA CARE. SOMERSET WAS ABLE TO BOTH INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SURVIVORS EMPLOYED AS WELL AS PRODUCTION CAPACITY, LAUNCHING MULTIPLE NEW PRODUCTS NOW COMPETING IN THE US ATHLEISURE MARKET. THE WORK OF THE SOMERSET TEAM "EMPOWERS THROUGH EMPLOYMENT". THIS IS ALSO MIRRORED IN THE US TEAM, WHERE US SURVIVORS ARE EMPLOYED TO HELP IN INVENTORY, QUALITY CONTROL, ORDER FULFILLMENT AND CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT. THIS YEAR WE HAVE SEEN THE MOST WOMEN FREED, EMPLOYED, AND EMPOWERED THAN ANY YEAR SINCE ARUNA'S FOUNDING.
- $306,907 spent. THE ARUNA RUNS ARE VOLUNTEER LED AWARENESS EVENTS THAT HAPPEN IN CITIES ACROSS THE US. IN EACH ARUNA RUN, PARTICIPANTS RUN FOR A WOMAN BY NAME THAT OUR TRAINING CENTER TEAMS ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING TO FREE. THE PARTICIPANTS ALSO RECEIVE PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY ARTISANS IN THE FREEDOM BUSINESS WHO WERE FREED, IN PART, AS A RESULT OF PREVIOUS ARUNA RUNS. THE VOLUNTEER LEADERS DID A GREAT JOB THIS YEAR IN LEADING ARUNA RUNS IN 12 DIFFERENT CITIES ACROSS THE US.
- THE ARUNA RUNS ARE VOLUNTEER LED AWARENESS EVENTS THAT HAPPEN IN CITIES ACROSS THE US. IN EACH ARUNA RUN, PARTICIPANTS RUN FOR A WOMAN BY NAME THAT OUR TRAINING CENTER TEAMS ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING TO FREE. THE PARTICIPANTS ALSO RECEIVE PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY ARTISANS IN THE FREEDOM BUSINESS WHO WERE FREED, IN PART, AS A RESULT OF PREVIOUS ARUNA RUNS. THE VOLUNTEER LEADERS DID A GREAT JOB THIS YEAR IN LEADING ARUNA RUNS IN 12 DIFFERENT CITIES ACROSS THE US.
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 2014.
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 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.