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Penny Appeal USA Inc

EIN 47-5165837 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE WORKING TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS AND EMERGENCY RELIEF. OUR MISSION IS TO BRING ABOUT AN EQUITABLE WORLD BY TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY. OUR INTERVENTIONS FOCUS ON PROVIDING COMMUNITIES WITH ACCESS TO WATER, EDUCATION AND INCOME OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$7.2 million
Spending
$8.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
18
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$181,346, chief development officer

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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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. $3.3 million spent. EMERGENCY RESPONSE- WHEN DISASTERS STRIKE AND PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED OF ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SERVICES, PENNY APPEAL USA IS THERE TO HELP. WE'VE ASSISTED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH LIFE-SAVING FOOD, SHELTER, AND WATER.
  2. $684,842 spent. ORPHAN KIND- ORPHANED CHILDREN DESERVE THE BEST IN LIFE. THAT'S WHY WE'VE OPTED TO DO AWAY WITH THE 1:1 MODEL. WITH MULTIPLE DONORS PROVIDING EACH CHILD WITH ALL THE ESSENTIALS FOR THEIR EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PHYSICAL GROWTH, WE CAN HELP EVERY ORPHAN PAVE A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN THE FACE OF TREMENDOUS LOSS. YOUR SUPPORT PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS MEALS, CLOTHES, HEALTHCARE AND AN EDUCATION TO ORPHANED CHILDREN.
  3. $560,477 spent. RELIGIOUS GIVING- AS A MUSLIM-LED ORGANIZATION, WE ARE DEDICATED TO GIVING MUSLIM DONORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTAKE IN RELIGIOUS GIVING AS MANDATED BY THEIR FAITH. OFFERINGS INCLUDE ZAKAT, FIDYA/KIFFARAH, SADAQAH JARIYAH, AQIQAH AND QURBANI.
  4. $1.6 million spent. FEED OUR WORLD- EACH YEAR, OUR FEED OUR WORLD PROGRAM PROVIDESLIFE-SAVING, NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO THE POOR AND NEEDY. THE RANGE OF FOWPROGRAMS HELP COMBAT FOOD MALNUTRITION IN CRISIS-HIT COUNTRIES ACROSSASIA, AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST AS WELL AS HERE AT HOME.HEAL HUMANITY- OUR PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING MUCH NEEDEDHEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL AID TO THOSE MOST IN NEED. HHPROGRAMS HELP BUILD AND REFURBISH HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AS WELL ASPROVIDE MEDICAL ESSENTIALS NEEDED FOR PATIENTS WHO LACK THAT ACCESS.INCOME GENERATION- AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO ERADICATE POVERTY IN ASUSTAINABLE WAY, OUR INCOME GENERATION PROGRAMS FOCUS ON PROVIDINGRURAL COMMUNITIES WITH THE TOOLS AND SKILLS THEY NEED TO ESCAPE POVERTYONCE AND FOR ALL. YOU CAN HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY PROVIDINGFAMILIES WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.THROUGH OUR THIRST RELIEF PROGRAMS, WE'RE PROVIDING SAFE WATER TOENABLE LOCALS TO DRINK, WASH, CLEAN AND IRRIGATE THEIR CROPS AS WELL ASHYDRATE THEIR ANIMALS. OUR THIRST RELIEF PROGRAMS LEAD TO HEALTHIERLIVES, BETTER EDUCATED COMMUNITIES AND A ROUTE OUT OF POVERTY.OTHER PROGRAMS

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 May 2016.

    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.