African Peoples Education and Defense Fund Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DEVELOP AND INSTITUTIONALIZE PROGRAMS TO DEFEND THE HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY, AND TO ADDRESS THE GRAVE DISPARITIES IN EDUCATION, HEALTH, HEALTHCARE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FACED BY AFRICAN PEOPLE.
- Income
- $381,923
- Spending
- $556,690
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 42%
- Employees
- 8
- Highest pay
- $14,300, president
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: 35 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $337,868 spent. COMMUNITY AND HOUSING PROGRAMS: APEDF OPERATES UHURU FREEDOM HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTERS ALONG WITH PROGRAMS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CULTURAL FULFILLMENT IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS OF ST. PETERSBURG, FL, ST. LOUIS, MO, OAKLAND, CA AND PHILADELPHIA, PA. OUR WORK IMPROVES THE LIVES AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF BLACK PEOPLE BY BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THAT ENGAGE IN GRASS-ROOTS DECISION MAKING, PROMOTE COMMUNITY-BASED LEADERSHIP AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE SOLUTIONS. APEDFS PROGRAMMING IS A TEMPLATE FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION AND INTENDED TO BE REPLICATED NATIONWIDE. IN 2025, APEDFS KEYSTONE COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION AND ANTI-GENTRIFICATION PROGRAM, THE BLACK POWER BLUEPRINT OF ST. LOUIS, CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS OF ST. LOUIS, A 98% BLACK COMMUNITY WHERE 60% OF RESIDENTS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND ONE THIRD LIVE IN DEEP POVERTY. ST. LOUIS RANKS EIGHTH IN THE NATION FOR RACIAL DISPARITIES IN POVERTY. THE BLACK POWER BLUEPRINT HAS BUILT A SERIES OF INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND SPACES. ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT HAS INSPIRED AND ENABLED CURRENT AND PREVIOUS RESIDENTS TO STAY OR MOVE BACK TO THE HISTORICALLY BLACK NORTHSIDE, REVERSING THE TREND WHERE ST. LOUIS HAS THE 8TH MOST SEVERE POPULATION DECREASE AMONG MAJOR CITIES IN THE LAST DECADE. OUR ST. LOUIS BLACK POWER VANGUARDS COMMUNITY BASKETBALL COURT, PREVIOUSLY THE SITE OF A CONDEMNED BUILDING, CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RECREATION, FITNESS AND YOUTH PROGRAMING TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, TEAMWORK, SOCIAL SKILLS AND COMMUNITY COHESION FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS. WE HELD OUR 6TH ANNUAL ST. LOUIS CHILDRENS HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL IN 2025 TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES AND PROVIDE A SAFE CELEBRATION SPACE FOR CHILDREN. IN 2025, THE APEDFS BLACK POWER BLUEPRINT COMPLETED TWO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING RENTALS FOR NORTHSIDE RESIDENTS OF ST. LOUIS AND BEGAN RENOVATION ON A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR RETAIL SALES. THIS CONTINUES OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT IN A CITY WITH AN ESTIMATED 25,000 VACANT HOMES, WHERE ONE IN EVERY THREE IN NORTH ST. LOUIS IS ABANDONED DUE TO DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING POLICIES, SUBURBAN FLIGHT AND INDUSTRIAL COLLAPSE. AFTER AN EF3 TORNADO DESTROYED THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND DEVASTATED AREAS OF NORTH ST. LOUIS ON 5/18/25, APEDF QUICKLY ENGAGED OUR N2U VOLUNTEER BRIGADE, HOSTING 35 VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS IN 24 WEEKS. WE RECRUITED AND COORDINATED OVER 450 VOLUNTEERS WHO PREPARED MEALS. THEY SOLICITED, RECEIVED AND DISTRIBUTED EMERGENCY FOOD AND SUPPLIES TO RESIDENTS, PROVIDED AN ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION, AND CLEARED OVER 2,000 POUNDS OF BRICK DEBRIS, 6,000 POUNDS OF ROOF DEBRIS AND 300,000 POUNDS OF TREE DEBRIS. APEDF PROVIDED TORNADO RECOVERY INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR HOME REPAIRS, POWER RESTORATION AND EMERGENCY SUPPORT. APEDF REPRESENTATIVES ALSO ATTENDED NINE PUBLIC MEETINGS ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC FUNDS TO SUPPORT DISASTER RELIEF AND THE OVERALL REVITALIZATION OF NORTH ST. LOUIS. IN TOTAL, APEDFS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM ENGAGED MORE THAN 700 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN NORTH ST. LOUIS. THESE INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN MORE THAN 50 COMMUNITY WORKDAYS ASSISTING WITH GARDENING, GRANT WRITING, FOOD SERVICE, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, PROGRAM PROMOTIONS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, RESEARCH AND LOGISTICS. APEDFS VOLUNTEER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS PROVIDED 3 PARTICIPANTS WITH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN LEADERSHIP AND BUILDING SOFT SKILLS. IN DECEMBER 2025 APEDF HOSTED OUR 4TH ANNUAL N2U HEART AND SOUL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION NATIONAL EVENT, RECOGNIZING 56 AWARD NOMINEES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THE N2U VOLUNTEER BRIGADE OFFERS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THE DISPARITIES FACED BY THE BLACK COMMUNITY. VOUNTEERS BRING THEIR RESOURCES AND SKILLS TO PARTICIPATE IN MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD A POSITIVE FUTURE WHERE NORTH ST. LOUIS HAS SUSTAINABLE SELF-DETERMINATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL VIBRANCY. THEY REPORT THAT THEY ARE CHANGED IN PROFOUND WAYS, GAINING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CITY AND FEELINGS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND HOPEFULNES. HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS: APEDF SHOWS OUR COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY WITH PROJECTS AIMED AT ALLEVIATING CONCENTRATED POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY AND GRAVE HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE. IN 2025, FOR THE SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW, APEDFS ST. LOUIS BASED GARY BROOKS COMMUNITY GARDEN DISTRIBUTED OVER 1,000 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO THE COMMUNITY AT NO COST. SCORES OF VOLUNTEER GARDENERS CULTIVATED THE PRODUCE THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON. IN THE NORTH ST LOUIS AREA, THE POPULATION IS 94% BLACK AND 30% OF RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY. APEDF PROGRAMS PROVIDE A LIFELINE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SUPPLYING FOOD FROM THE GARDEN AND THE APEDF-SPONSORED MONTHLY NORTH ST. LOUIS FARMERS MARKET (HELD SINCE 2020). THE MARKET PARTNERS WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN BLACK FARMERS AND GROWERS WHO SELL LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE AND OTHER FRESH FOODS AND CONDUCT WORKSHOPS ON HEALTHY EATING. IN ADDITION, GARDENING WORKSHOPS HELP TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOME GARDENS ON THE NORTHSIDE OF ST. LOUIS. APEDF HAS NOW LAUNCHED THE SHAMBA LA UHURU FREEDOM FARM ON ONE-THIRD ACRE OF NEWLY PURCHASED LAND. USDA URBAN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION PROGRAM FUNDING WILL ENABLE US TO DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS FOOD PRODUCTION. CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN 2025 BASED ON A PROFESSIONAL FOOD-SCAPING DESIGN. CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION IN 2026 INCLUDES INSTALLATION OF 24 GARDEN BEDS, AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM, ELECTRICITY, A STORAGE STRUCTURE AND A BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCEWAY AND FENCE. AS PART OF ERADICATING FOOD INSECURITY IN NORTH ST. LOUIS, THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A PERMANENT ROADSIDE FARM STAND TO DISTRIBUTE PRODUCE, OFFERING INCOME OPPORTUNITIES TO FOOD GROWERS AND PRODUCERS, AND POTENTIAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES. IN PHILADELPHIA, APEDF HELD ITS 17TH ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR, REACHING HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH WELL-BEING AND FITNESS WORKS
- $62,383 spent. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: APEDF CONTINUES TO OPERATE BLACK COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ADVOCATE FOR CAPITAL INFUSIONS TO SUPPORT SELF-SUSTAINING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND POWER. IN ST. PETERSBURG, APEDF PROVIDES AN AFFORDABLE, LICENSED COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL KITCHEN WHERE MORE THAN 15 CATERERS, FOOD VENDORS, COOKS AND ENTREPRENEURS OPERATE FOOD-RELATED BUSINESSES AS SELF-SUSTAINING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. APEDF CONTINUES TO OPERATE COMMUNITY-BASED MARKETPLACES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE 6TH SEASON IN ST. LOUIS, AND FOR THE 19TH SEASON IN PHILADELPHIA. THESE MARKETPLACES GENERATE COMMUNITY COMMERCE AND ADDRESS FOOD APARTHEID AND FOOD INSECURITY. IN 2025, THE MARKETS PROVIDED LOW-COST VENDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVER 120 ENTREPRENEURS IN PHILADELPHIA AND 40 URBAN FARMERS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN ST. LOUIS, RECIRCULATING MONEY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. THE MARKETPLACES OFFER CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, FITNESS CLASSES, CHILDRENS ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS ON GARDENING, COOKING AND NUTRITION. TO SUPPORT PEOPLE RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE AFTER INCARCERATION, APEDF CONTINUES TO DEVELOP THE AFRICAN INDEPENDENCE WORKFORCE PROGRAM (AIWP) UNDER THE BANNER OUR LABOR, OUR FUTURE. MISSOURIS PRISONS AND JAILS RELEASE APPROXIMATELY 100,000 BLACK COMMUNITY MEMBERS ANNUALLY. MANY OF THEM RETURN TO NORTH ST. LOUIS, A COMMUNITY THAT LACKS ADEQUATE REENTRY INFRASTRUCTURE. THE AIWP SEEKS TO REVERSE THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PRISON SYSTEM AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING TO JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. APEDF MAINTAINS AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN ST. LOUIS TO HOUSE WORKFORCE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. IN 2025, APEDF CERTIFIED TWO AIWP LEADERS AS REENTRY SPECIALISTS AND ATTENDED THE NATIONALREENTRY WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCE. WE CONTINUED FUNDING EFFORTS THROUGH ATTENDING WEBINARS AND FILING GRANT APPLICATIONS. WE BEGAN ROOF, DISPLAY WINDOW AND INTERIOR RENOVATION OF A BUILDING FOR A TRAINING CENTER AND RETAIL SPACE TO SELL AFRICAN CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS CREATED BY THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND LOCAL ARTISTS. APEDF CONTINUES ITS LONG HISTORY OF RECRUITING, HIRING AND TRAINING FORMERLY INCARCERATED AFRICAN MEN AND WOMEN. ALSO IN ST. LOUIS, APEDF COMPLETELY RENOVATED A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR THE HOME OF UHURU (FREEDOM) BAKERY AND CAFE, WHICH BEGAN OPERATIONS IN OCTOBER 2025. THE CAFE IS PART OF THE APEDFS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT TEACHES CULINARY ARTS TO JUSTICE-IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WILL USE FRESH PRODUCE GROWN IN THE BLACK POWER BLUEPRINTS URBAN FARM. THIS CAFE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A LARGER UHURU CAFE RESTAURANT AND FOOD PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION FACILITY WHERE RE-ENTRY AND JOB SKILLS TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE ON AN EVEN LARGER SCALE. TO ADVANCE BLACK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN PUBLIC POLICY, WE ENGAGE RESIDENTS AND PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL FORUMS, TOWN HALLS AND PUBLIC EVENTS. WE CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH, MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTERS AND WEEKLY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, CONTINUING TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR REBUILDING INTERGENERATIONAL BLACK WEALTH AND PROSPERITY.
- $37,162 spent. MEDIA AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES: IN PHILADELPHIA, APEDF HELD ITS 12TH ANNUAL BOOK FAIR IN SEPTEMBER 2025 AT THE PHILADELPHIA MARKETPLACE PROMOTING BLACK AUTHORS AND INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS AND BOOKSELLERS. THE BOOK FAIR FEATURED EDUCATION RESOURCE PROVIDERS, POETRY READINGS, SPOKEN WORD, STORYTELLING AND LITERACY ACTIVITIES. INST. PETERSBURG, APEDF OPERATES A LOW-POWER NONCOMMERCIAL FM COMMUNITY RADIO STATION THAT REACHES MORE THAN 100,000 RESIDENTS BY BROADCAST AND MORE BY INTERNET AND MOBILE PHONE APP. IN THIS AREA, 70% OF BLACK FAMILIES LIVE BELOW POVERTY LEVEL. PROGRAMMING IS FOCUSED ON BLACK COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH THEIR OWN VOICE FOR NEWS, INFORMATION AND CULTURE. PROVIDING PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION AND WEATHER EMERGENCY INFORMATION ARE CRITICAL ROLES OF THE STATION. WITH 90% OF ALL MEDIA CONTROLLED BY A HANDFUL OF LARGE CORPORATIONS, THIS STATION PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE AIRWAVES FOR UNSIGNED LOCAL MUSICAL TALENT AND BLACK ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. APEDF ALSO PROVIDES FREE BROADCAST AND JOURNALISM TRAINING FOR ST. PETERSBURG COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM GO ON TO PRODUCE LIVE PROGRAMMING AT THE STATION. APEDF PROMOTES LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES ON AIR TO BUILD BLACK COMMUNITY ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND ENGAGEMENT. IN ST. LOUIS, RENOVATIONS BEGAN IN 2025 TO PREPARE A BUILDING TO HOUSE APEDFS SECOND MEDIA CENTER AND RADIO STATION.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 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 1995.
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 November 4, 2026.
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