Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $10.8 million
- Spending
- $9.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 75%
- Employees
- 156
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $168,516, 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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 71% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $4.2 million spent. OREGON | EQUITABLE EDUCATION PORTFOLIOIN OREGON, WE CONTINUED TO ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY THROUGH A CULTURALLY GROUNDED CONTINUUM OF EARLY LEARNING AND K-12 INITIATIVES SERVING AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FAMILIES ACROSS THE PORTLAND METRO AREA.OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS SERVED OVER 90 CHILDREN THROUGH CAIRO ACADEMY, WHICH OPERATED FIVE PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRESCHOOL FOR ALL (PFA) AND PRESCHOOL PROMISE. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THESE CLASSROOMS OFFER FREE, HIGH-QUALITY, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION TO CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FAMILIES. IN ADDITION TO PRESCHOOL, WE DELIVERED PARENT-CENTERED PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EQUITY FUND (ECEF), WHICH INCLUDES PARENT EDUCATION, INTERACTIVE PARENT-CHILD LEARNING, AND KINDERGARTEN TRANSITION SUPPORTS, ALL DESIGNED TO CENTER FAMILY VOICE, CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND SCHOOL READINESS.IN THE K-12 SPACE, OUR SPACE PROGRAM (SCHOOLS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES ENGAGED) EXPANDED ACROSS REYNOLDS, BEAVERTON, AND HILLSBORO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE SPACE PROGRAM AIMS TO ELIMINATE ACADEMIC DISPARITIES FOR AFRICAN IMMIGRANT STUDENTS BY BUILDING TWO PILLARS OF SUCCESS: 1. EMPOWERED PARENTS: THROUGH CULTURALLY TAILORED TRAINING AND ORGANIZING, PARENTS GAIN THE TOOLS TO BE ACTIVE LEADERS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. 2. CULTURALLY-INFORMED SCHOOLS: WE PARTNER WITH EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL STAFF TO STRENGTHEN CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIVENESS TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.THIS TWO-PRONGED APPROACH CREATES THE CONDITIONS FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS FOR SOMALI AND OTHER AFRICAN IMMIGRANT YOUTHNOT ONLY IN SCHOOL, BUT IN LIFE.
- $1.2 million spent. OREGON & MINNESOTA | MENTAL HEALTH, YOUTH GANG AND TOBACCO PREVENTION AND HOUSING STABILITYIN OREGON, WE ADVANCED COMMUNITY HEALTH THROUGH A COMBINATION OF PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING. OUR TOBACCO PREVENTION INITIATIVE, OPERATING IN MULTNOMAH AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES, ENGAGED YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN DEVELOPING COMMUNITY-DRIVEN STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS TOBACCO ADDICTION AND PROMOTE LONG-TERM PREVENTION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)COMPLEMENTING THIS WORK, OUR BEYOND PROGRAM (BUILDING EMPOWERED YOUTH OVERCOMING NEGATIVE DYNAMICS) REACHED OVER 120 SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN THROUGH GANG AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION, DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF PORTLAND AND THE OREGON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT DIVISION.CAIRO ALSO COLLABORATED WITH KAISER PERMANENTE AND MULTNOMAH COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT TARGETED WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH, RESILIENCE, AND FAMILY WELL-BEING. THESE INCLUDED YOUTH WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO FOSTER THRIVING, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. CAIRO'S HOUSING ACCESS AND STABILITY PROGRAM SUPPORTED 144 FAMILIES ACROSS CENTRAL MINNESOTA WITH SERVICES INCLUDING EVICTION PREVENTION, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HOUSING NAVIGATION AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT. WE ALSO FACILITATED EIGHT TENANT LISTENING SESSIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL LEASING AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ELEVATE TENANT VOICES, STRENGTHEN LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONSHIPS, AND PROMOTE EQUITABLE HOUSING PRACTICES.AS PART OF OUR LONG-TERM VISION FOR EQUITABLE HOUSING, WE ACQUIRED 3.7 ACRES OF LAND IN ST. CLOUD, DESIGNATED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF LARGE-SIZED, WORKING FAMILIES. THIS ACQUISITION MARKS A CRITICAL STEP TOWARD BUILDING COMMUNITY-ROOTED HOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND FAMILY STABILITY FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES.
- $200,062 spent. MINNESOTA | YOUTH EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMSIN MINNESOTA, WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR IMPACT ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A ROBUST PORTFOLIO OF EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, AND CAREER-READINESS PROGRAMMING IN ST. CLOUD AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THROUGH OUR FLAGSHIP SPACE PROGRAM (SCHOOLS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES ENGAGED), WE SERVED OVER 120 STUDENTS ACROSS ALL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN ST. CLOUD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (ISD 742). THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CONSISTENT ACADEMIC MENTORING, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND SCHOOL SUPPORT, HELPING AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE YOUTH BUILD THE CONFIDENCE, SKILLS, AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE LAUNCHED CONNECT (CULTIVATING OPPORTUNITIES, NURTURING NEW EXPERIENCES FOR TOMORROW), A NEW YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. OVER THE COURSE OF SIX WEEKS, 60 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS, HANDS-ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM CULMINATED IN A TRANSFORMATIVE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IMMERSION EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK CITY, WHERE STUDENTS VISITED HISTORIC SITES SUCH AS THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS AND ELLIS ISLAND, FOSTERING A SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND GLOBAL IDENTITY.OUR MYSTEP (MINNESOTA YOUTH SKILLS TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PATHWAYS) INITIATIVE SUPPORTED 52 YOUTH IN EXPLORING FUTURE CAREERS THROUGH A 12-WEEK SEQUENCE OF CAREER ADVISING, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND JOB READINESS TRAINING. STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN INTERNSHIPS, MENTORSHIPS, AND REAL-WORLD WORK EXPERIENCES, AND EACH RECEIVED A STIPEND OF $1,040 TO SUPPORT THEIR PARTICIPATION AND RECOGNIZE THEIR COMMITMENT. MYSTEP AIMS TO EQUIP STUDENTSMANY OF WHOM ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE-GOERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLORWITH THE TOOLS TO ACCESS COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS.
- $2.8 million spent. MINNESOTA | WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTOUR GATEWAYS2GROWTH INITIATIVE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR ADULT LEARNERS IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS CREDENTIALED TRAINING IN HIGH-DEMAND SECTORS INCLUDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT), HEALTHCARE, AND COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE (CDL), TARGETING IMMIGRANT, REFUGEE, AND BIPOC JOBSEEKERS. IN ADDITION TO TECHNICAL TRAINING, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE CAREER COUNSELING, INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT, JOB PLACEMENT SUPPORT, AND WORKPLACE CULTURE AND EXPECTATIONS TRAINING ALL DESIGNED TO ENSURE LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS AND RETENTION.THIS PAST YEAR, WE SUPPORTED 58 INDIVIDUALS IN EARNING INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, AND SUCCESSFULLY PLACED OVER 260 PARTICIPANTS IN PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT ACROSS MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES. GATEWAYS2GROWTH CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A VITAL BRIDGE FOR UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES TO ACCESS STABLE, FAMILY-SUSTAINING CAREERS.
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
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 June 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 October 2016.
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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