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Radio Ambulante Studios Inc

EIN 81-2765654 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO TELL UNDERREPORTED LATIN AMERICAN STORIES FROM ANYWHERE SPANISH IS SPOKEN, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES. THESE STORIES ARE MADE TO EDUCATE, DISSEMINATE INFORMATION, AND PROVIDE NEW PERSPECTIVES ON LATIN AMERICAN/LATINO IDENTITY.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
0
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$254,000, board president/ceo

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

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 93% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 4 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. DURING THE YEAR RADIO AMBULANTE PRODUCED PODCASTS THAT TELL THE STORIES OF LATIN AMERICA. THE PODCASTS WERE DISTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AND COVERED A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENT AND SCIENCE, HUMAN INTEREST, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND IMMIGRATION. IN REPORTING A STORY, WE WORK WITH A TALENTED COMMUNITY OF FREELANCE STORYTELLERS AND RADIO PRODUCERS FROM DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE CONTINENT. THEREFORE, RADIO AMBULANTE MAY OPERATE IN ANY REGION OR COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD WHERE WE CAN INVESTIGATE NEGLECTED AND UNDERREPORTED STORIES THAT WILL EDUCATE AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY OF LISTENERS. RADIO AMBULANTE REPORTED STORIES FROM ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CANADA, CHILE, COLOMBIA, CUBA, ECUADOR, EL SALVADOR, SPAIN, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, MEXICO, PERU, UNITED KINGDOM, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, URUGUAY AND VENEZUELA. IN ORDER TO REPORT STORIES OVERSEAS, WE WORK WITH CORRESPONDENTS AND FREELANCE LOCAL JOURNALISTS WITH A BROAD KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL CURRENT EVENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 May 2018.

    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.

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.