Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Latvian Association in the United States Inc

EIN 53-0215408 · Rockville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN LATVIAN ASSOCIATION (ALA) IS THE MAIN REPRESENTATIVE ORGANIZATION FOR THE LATVIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THROUGH 100 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, CLUBS AND SOME 4,000 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS WE REPRESENT OVER 90,000 PEOPLE OF LATVIAN DESCENT LIVING IN THE US. WE ARE A NONPROFIT, TAX EXEMPT EDUCATIONAL AND CULTUAL ORGANIZATION. ALA SUPPORTS CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND FACILITATES COOPERATION WITHIN THE LATVIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. WE PROMOTE THE STUDY OF LATVIAN LANGUAGE, HISTORY AND CULTURE. WE ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF LATVIAN SCHOOLS, BOOKS AND TEACHING MATERIALS FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE ASSIST NEWLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANTS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE USA AND WE PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID TO PEOPLE IN LATVIA. ALA SEEKS TO FACILITATE THE PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT OF LATVIA BY PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR LATVIA THROUGH INFORMATIONAL EFFORTS IN THE USA.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
59.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 50%
Employees
3
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$96,394, executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 59.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (3)
  1. $475,166 spent. EDUCATION: ALA'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE ALL PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS RELATING TO LATVIAN LANGUAGE EDUCATION, ASSISTANCE TO LATVIAN SCHOOLS, DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND EDUCATIONAL TRIPS TO LATVIA.
  2. $98,961 spent. CULTURE: PROVIDES SUPPORT TO LATVIAN ESTABLISHMENTS TO BE ABLE TO CONGREGATE AND HOST CULTURAL EVENTS, PROVIDES AWARDS FOR CULTURAL PROJECTS LIKE MOVIES, BOOK PUBLISHING, ETC. ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT AND AID TO LV BY PROVIDING AWARDS TO UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LV IN COLLABORATION WITH NGOS CHILDREN'S FUND OF LATVIA AND ANGEL'S HEART.
  3. $317,706 spent. INFORMATION: ALA'S INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE ALL ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATIONAL AND PR ACTIVITIES, THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ABOUT ALA'S PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AS WELL AS CURRENT EVENTS IN LATVIA, AND ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO ALA MEMBERSHIP AND THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPCONGRESS.

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 October 1952.

    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.