Afro Charities Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AFRO CHARITIES CARES FOR THE HISTORIC AFRO AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS' ARCHIVE AND CREATES MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THIS INDISPENSIBLE SET OF RESOURCES.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 12.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 58%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $144,268, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 51% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 72% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 60 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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 June 30, 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 (6)
- $423,280 spent. The development of the historic Upton Mansion includes the restoration of the historic mansion and carriage house, the construction of an annex at the rear of the property, and extensive site work on the grounds. Once complete, the campus will be ADA accessible for the first time in its nearly 200-year history and will become an important economic anchor in a neighborhood that has suffered from generations of disinvestment.
- $334,978 spent. The AFRO Archives have historically been an internal reference archive for AFRO editors and reporters. Afro Charities has taken on the labor- intensive work of converting these materials into a public-facing research archive. To process the collection, we pull files from throughout the collection and arrange them in alphabetical order, working one letter at a time. We make simple interventions to physically stabilize archival documents in the folders.
- $29,745 spent. Afro Charities hosts a biennial artist commissioning project, inviting contemporary artists to explore the AFRO Archives, and supporting their research and artistic production. Artists work is ultimately shown in a public exhibition. Each artist will have 14 months to conduct original research in the AFRO News Archives, and to produce new artwork inspired by their findings. The artists will be provided with technical assistance and generous research, production and materials stipends to support their work.
- $137,273 spent. MRS. SANTA PROGRAM, CONVERSATION SERIES, YOUTH PROGRAMS
- Expenses: $137273.00 including grants of: $0.00 Revenue: $0.00
- MRS. SANTA PROGRAM, CONVERSATION SERIES, YOUTH PROGRAMS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.
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 December 1992.
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.