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Actionaid USA

EIN 52-2277575 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACTIONAID IS AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK BUILDING A JUST, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD IN SOLIDARITY WITH COMMUNITIES ON THE FRONTLINES OF POVERTY AND INJUSTICE. ACTIONAID USA IS THE U.S. BRANCH OF ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL, WHICH WORKS IN MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL JUSTICE, GENDER EQUALITY, AND POVERTY ERADICATION. WE INFLUENCE U.S. POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE UNITED NATIONS AND ELEVATE MARGINALIZED VOICES IN THE HALLS OF POWER.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
13
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$173,353, executive director

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

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 101% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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 59% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. WOMEN'S RIGHTS - WE ADVANCED WOMEN'S RIGHTS THROUGH RESEARCH, MOVEMENT-BUILDING, AND LOCALLY-LED PROGRAMMING. WE SUPPORTED THE PUBLICATION OF THE JACARANDA PAPER, AN AFRICAN FEMINIST FRAMEWORK CALLING FOR ECONOMIES ROOTED IN CARE AND JUSTICE RATHER THAN AUSTERITY AND EXTRACTION. WE SUPPORTED THE YOUNG URBAN WOMEN PROJECT, HELPING YOUNG WOMEN BUILD LEADERSHIP AND ADVANCE THEIR ECONOMIC RIGHTS AND BODILY AUTONOMY.
  2. $671,605 spent. HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES: WE DELIVERED URGENT HUMANITARIAN AID ACROSS DOZENS OF COUNTRIES WITH A RIGHTS-BASED, LOCALLY-LED APPROACH. IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK, WE REACHED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH FOOD, HEALTH SERVICES, WATER, PROTECTION, CASH ASSISTANCE, AND SHELTER DESPITE A NEAR-TOTAL AID BLOCKADE. WE ALSO RESPONDED TO EARTHQUAKES IN MYANMAR AND AFGHANISTAN AS WELL AS CONFLICT-DRIVEN DISPLACEMENT IN CAMBODIA. OUR EMERGENCY ACTION FUND ENABLED RAPID DEPLOYMENT WITHIN THE CRITICAL FIRST HOURS OF EACH DISASTER.
  3. $514,407 spent. CLIMATE JUSTICE: WE ADVANCED CLIMATE JUSTICE THROUGH DOMESTIC ORGANIZING AND INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY. WE HOSTED OUR SECOND ANNUAL CLIMATE REPARATIONS CAMP NEAR NEW ORLEANS, BUILDING A DOMESTIC POWER BASE FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE JUSTICE. AT COP30 IN BELM, WE HELPED SECURE A JUST TRANSITION MECHANISM UNDER THE UN CLIMATE CONVENTION. WE CONTINUED ADVOCACY TO CAPITALIZE THE LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND AND RELEASED A REPORT DOCUMENTING HOW CARBON MARKETS FREQUENTLY FAIL TO BENEFIT LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN KENYA AND LIBERIA.
  4. $128,549 spent. ECONOMIC JUSTICE: WE SUPPORTED RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY TO CHALLENGE INJUSTICE IN THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM, EXPOSING THE IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE DEBT BURDENS CARRIED BY LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES AND THE FAR GREATER CLIMATE DEBT OWED TO THEM BY WEALTHY NATIONS. OUR AUSTERITY RESEARCH DOCUMENTED HOW BUDGET CUTS ACROSS AFRICA ARE PUSHING FRONTLINE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS TO THE BRINK. WE ALSO ADVOCATED AT THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT, SECURING INCLUSION OF SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS REFORM IN THE OUTCOME DOCUMENT.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.