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Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans

EIN 74-1696961 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AAMA'S MISSSION IS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER LATINOS TO PURSUE AND ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS. AAMA'S ULTIMATE GOAL IS THAT ALL LATINOS WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE ECONOMIC AND CIVIL SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT WILL MAKE THAT VISION POSSIBLE.

Income
$22.2 million
Spending
$21.2 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
331
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$243,891, ceo, president and superintendent

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 August 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 (2)
  1. $16.0 million spent. AAMA'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE GEORGE I. SANCHEZ CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH SERVED 1,100 STUDENTS AT TWO CAMPUSES IN HOUSTON. THE HOUSTON SCHOOL INCLUDES PRE-KINDERGARTEN FOR AGES 3 AND 4, MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR YOUTH IN GRADES 6-8, AND HIGH SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12. SANCHEZ FOCUSES ON HIGHLY AT-RISK LATINO STUDENTS AND HELPS THEM OVERCOME ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL BARRIERS THROUGH SMALL CLASSES, RIGOROUS INSTRUCTION, ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION, INTENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES AND A PERSONALIZED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE SCHOOL OFFERS ON-CAMPUS CHILDCARE FOR ENROLLED TEEN PARENTS; DUAL CREDIT COURSES SO STUDENTS CAN GET A HEAD START ON COLLEGE CREDITS AT NO COST; AND A VARIETY OF STUDENT CLUBS AND SPORTS PROGRAMS TO HELP KEEP STUDENTS FIT, ACTIVE AND MOTIVATED TO SUCCEED. APPROXIMATELY 90% OF THE STUDENTS GRADUATE.
  2. $4.8 million spent. AAMA'S PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, EDUCATION AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAMS ("HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES") PROVIDES A NETWORK OF PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, EDUCATION AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS FOCUSING ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. THE ORGANIZATION'S OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT, INTERVENTION, PREVENTION, AND EDUCATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 5,000 YOUTH, ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN HOUSTON, LAREDO, AND SURROUNDING TEXAS COUNTIES. THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDED A SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HOUSTON, TX.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 August 2025.

    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 February 1972.

    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.

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