Openaq Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
By providing universal access to air quality data, OpenAQ empowers a global community of changemakers to solve air inequality.
- Income
- $747,665
- Spending
- $678,661
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 9.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $159,791, director of tech
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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 (2)
- $340,729 spent. Air Quality Data Platform: To meet the needs of air quality researchers, community advocates, journalists and other air quality changemakers, OpenAQ provides the worlds largest open-access, open-source air quality data platform. In 2025, we aggregated new data from ~3,400 locations, including ~1,400 locations in low- and middle-income countries, reaching a total of more than 22,000 locations in 141 countries. We saw a 187% increase in registered users, totaling more than 19,000. Active API use leaped by 550% to 2,700 per quarter and active OpenAQ Explorer use increased by 34% to 250 per day. ~175 publications cited their use of OpenAQ, an average of over 14 per month.
- $198,314 spent. Community Engagement: Through webinars, trainings, speaking engagements, conference attendance, one-on-one meetings, impact stories and more, we introduced potential new users to the OpenAQ data platform and supported existing data practitioners. Through our Clean Air Community Ambassador program, we provided professional leadership training to 10 emerging air quality leaders from the world's most polluted regions. We connected air quality data producers and users across sectors and geographies to support an international learning environment. These and other outreach activities have resulted in greater use of the platform for air quality analysis and clean air advocacy.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.
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 September 2018.
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.
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.