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Passes our checks

Apano Communities United Fund

EIN 80-0252850 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

APANO UNITES ASIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS TO BUILD POWER, DEVELOP LEADERS, AND ADVANCE EQUITY THROUGH ORGANIZING, ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURAL WORK.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
48
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$128,559, co-executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $314,413 spent. GRADUATED 4 COHORTS OF EMERGING CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN ENGLISH, VIETNAMESE, AND CANTONESE AND PROVIDED TA, START UP FUNDS, AND GRANTS TOWARDS CREATING 500 NEW CHILDCARE SEATS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
  2. $202,240 spent. OUR SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED TO THRIVE AND SUPPORTED ROUGHLY 50 BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF PORTLAND AND 135 BUSINESSES IN WASHINGTON, CLACKAMAS, AND LINCOLN COUNTIES. THEY ALSO SUPPORT OUR EMERGING CHILDCARE BUSINESS OWNERS WITH THEIR SET UP AND ARE HOLDING SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING AND NETWORKING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
  3. $229,738 spent. APANO'S 'BEHIND THE WOK' PROJECT, WHICH CELEBRATED 6 LONG TIME CHINESE RESTAURANTS IN PORTLAND'S JADE DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE HISTORIC CANTON GRILL. REPRESENTING A YEAR AND HALF OF RESEARCH AND CAPTURING OF STORIES. THIS WORK HELPS INFORM OUR FUTURE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT BY INCORPORATING THE PAST AS WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.