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Pacific American Foundation

EIN 54-1696134 · Kailua, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PACIFIC AMERICAN FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PACIFIC AMERICANS BY EDUCATING AND INFORMING DECISION MAKERS AND LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS ON THE VITAL POLICY AREAS FOR AMERICANS WHO TRACE THEIR ANCESTRY TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, SUPPORT AGENCIES AND FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS TO COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOP AND CONDUCT PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THESE AMERICANS.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
214
Highest pay
$142,513, cfo

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $679,710 spent. 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS PROGRAM IS A FIVE-YEAR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH "COMMUNITY CLASSROOM" PARTNERS TO AUGMENT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE KAILUA - KALAHEO COMPLEX AREA OF OAHU.
  2. $563,798 spent. 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS PROGRAM IS A THREE-YEAR AFTER- SCHOOL PROGRAM CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH "COMMUNITY CLASSROOM" PARTNERS TO AUGMENT THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF OAHU.
  3. $421,677 spent. THE NALU STUDIES MAUI NUI PROGRAM CONSISTS OF EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS ON THREE ISLANDS OF HAWAI'I - MAUI, MOLOKA'I, AND LANA'I, KNOWN AS MAUI NUI. THE PROJECT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THOSE ISLANDS' MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, MAUI COLLEGE, AND THE MAUI FAMILY COURT, WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND APPLICABLE, REAL WORLD, HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH-RISK NATIVE HAWAIIAN YOUTH TO VALUE EDUCATION, HAWAIIAN CULTUREAND PROTOCOLS, STEWARDSHIP, AND SCIENCE. NALU IS AN ACRONYM FOR "NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING." STUDENTS WILL LEARN TO IDENTIFY REAL WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA TO SHARE WITH SCIENCE AGENCY PARTNERS, AND PRESENT SOLUTIONS TO THE PUBLIC. THEY WILL LEARN CULTURAL PROTOCOLS AND CONNECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH MEANINGFUL, ENGAGING APPROACHES WITH CARING ADULT MENTORS HELPING THEM BECOME ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO PEER MENTOR THEIR YOUNGER AT-RISK MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE NALU STUDIES MAUI NUI PROGRAM CONSISTS OF EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS ON THREE ISLANDS OF HAWAI'I - MAUI, MOLOKA'I, AND LANA'I, KNOWN AS MAUI NUI. THE PROJECT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THOSE ISLANDS' MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, MAUI COLLEGE, AND THE MAUI FAMILY COURT, WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND APPLICABLE, REAL WORLD, HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH-RISK NATIVE HAWAIIAN YOUTH TO VALUE EDUCATION, HAWAIIAN CULTUREAND PROTOCOLS, STEWARDSHIP, AND SCIENCE. NALU IS AN ACRONYM FOR "NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING." STUDENTS WILL LEARN TO IDENTIFY REAL WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA TO SHARE WITH SCIENCE AGENCY PARTNERS, AND PRESENT SOLUTIONS TO THE PUBLIC. THEY WILL LEARN CULTURAL PROTOCOLS AND CONNECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH MEANINGFUL, ENGAGING APPROACHES WITH CARING ADULT MENTORS HELPING THEM BECOME ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERS WHO PEER MENTOR THEIR YOUNGER AT-RISK MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
  4. $1.9 million spent. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.
  5. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.

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 November 6, 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 August 1994.

    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 November 4, 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.