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Aia Foundation

EIN 59-3819154 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARCHITECTS USE THE POWER OF DESIGN TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, TRANSFORM LIVES, AND CREATE A BETTER WORLD. THE ARCHITECTS FOUNDATION INSPIRES AND EMPOWERS THE NEXT GENERATION OF DESIGNERS AND THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. THE ARCHITECTS FOUNDATION ALSO PRESERVES THE HISTORIC OCTAGON BUILDING IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL, SEEKING WAYS TO BEST EXPRESS THE VALUES OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, AND KEEP THE OCTAGON'S LEGACY ALIVE WITH EXHIBITS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOCUS ON THE VALUE ARCHITECTS AND ARCHITECTURE BRING TO CULTURE AND COMMUNITY, AND THE ARCHITECT'S ROLE IN A JUST, EQUITABLE, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY. WE ALSO RUN COMMUNITIES BY DESIGN, AN INITIATIVE THAT ALLOWS US TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD TO ADDRESS CRITICAL CHALLENGES LIKE CLIMATE RESILIENCE, REVITALIZATION AND HOUSING.

Income
$997,223
Spending
$963,130
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
0
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$195,729, 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 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 96% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (2)
  1. $431,009 spent. OCTAGON MUSEUM OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT - THE ARCHITECTS FOUNDATION IS THE OWNER AND MANAGER OF THE "OCTAGON" BUILDING, AN HISTORIC STRUCTURE LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE FOUNDATION OPERATES THE OCTAGON AS A MUSEUM, ART GALLERY, AND SHOWCASE. AS A MUSEUM AND EXHIBIT SPACE, THE OLDEST PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN DC NOW HOSTS PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATING THE CULTURAL AND SOCIETAL IMPACT OF ARCHITECTS AND ARCHITECTURE, AND THE ARCHITECT'S POTENTIAL TO CREATE A JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. THE OCTAGON ALSO HOSTS EDUCATIONAL LECTURES AND EVENTS FOR PROFESSIONALS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  2. $170,529 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND DIVERSITY - IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARCHITECTS, EVERY YEAR, THE FOUNDATION AWARDS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ARCHITECTURE SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO HIGH SCHOOL AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, ARCHITECT REGISTRATION EXAM (ARE) CANDIDATES, AND LICENSED ARCHITECTS PURSUING ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

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 November 2006.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Asia Foundation (San Francisco, CA), EIN 94-1191246. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.