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Aga Khan Foundation USA

EIN 52-1231983 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AGA KHAN FOUNDATION U.S.A. IS A PUBLIC, NON-DENOMINATIONAL, PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED BY HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN. IT SEEKS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, PRIMARILY IN LOW INCOME COUNTRIES OF ASIA & AFRICA BY FUNDING PROGRAMS IN HEALTH, EDUCATION, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$106.7 million
Spending
$96.1 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
18.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
35
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$353,219, chief executive officer

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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, 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 (5)
  1. $17.9 million spent. As part of the AKF Endowment, these funds provide a permanent source of support to various long-term programmatic and operational expenditures
  2. $14.0 million spent. WATER EMERGENCY RELIEF PROJECT'S OVERALL OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER AND IRRIGATION WATER SERVICES IN SELECTED RURAL AREAS OF AFGHANISTAN. OVER THE COURSE OF THREE AND HALF YEARS, WERP WILL PROVIDE AROUND 1,000,000 MILLION PEOPLE WITH ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER SERVICES AND SUPPORT FARMERS TO GAIN ACCESS TO IRRIGATION WATER SERVICES
  3. $9.4 million spent. BEQUEST FUNDING TO AGA KHAN FOUNDATION GENEVA FOR LEVERAGING EXTERNAL DONOR FUNDING TOWARDS TACKLING THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.
  4. $51.8 million spent. IN 2025, AKF U.S.A. ACTIVE GRANTS SUPPORTED INTERVENTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, KENYA, KYRGYZSTAN, PAKISTAN, TAJIKISTAN, AND TANZANIA. THE DIVERSE PROGRAM PORTFOLIO INCORPORATES MULTI-SECTOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS TAJIKISTAN, AND AFGHANISTAN AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE SECTOR SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS IN EDUCATION, HEALTH, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CIVIL SOCIETY STRENTHNING AND ENVIRONMENT. AKF U.S.A. ACTIVELY SUPPORTS HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
  5. (Expenses $ 51,769,562 including grants of $ 46,444,094)(Revenue $ 136,786) IN 2025, AKF U.S.A. ACTIVE GRANTS SUPPORTED INTERVENTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, KENYA, KYRGYZSTAN, PAKISTAN, TAJIKISTAN, AND TANZANIA. THE DIVERSE PROGRAM PORTFOLIO INCORPORATES MULTI-SECTOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS TAJIKISTAN, AND AFGHANISTAN AREA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE SECTOR SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS IN EDUCATION, HEALTH, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CIVIL SOCIETY STRENTHNING AND ENVIRONMENT. AKF U.S.A. ACTIVELY SUPPORTS HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

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

  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 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 December 1981.

    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.