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Aozora Community Foundation Inc

EIN 81-2989023 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 87 cents.

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

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW YORK AREA FAMILIES TO ENGAGE WITH JAPAN'S UNIQUE LANGUAGE, ARTS AND CULTURE BY: OPERATING A BILINGUAL JAPANESE-ENGLISH PRE-SCHOOL OR DAYCARE; OFFERING EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS, SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS THAT SERVE JAPANESE HERITAGE FAMILIES; OFFERING EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE, ARTS AND CULTURE; CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JAPANESE HERITAGE FAMILIES TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH GATHERINGS AND EVENTS; AND SHARING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION THAT ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE, ARTS AND CULTURE.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
50
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$105,988, founder & school director

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 87 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (1)
  1. $1.9 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE OPERATING OR OFFERING BILINGUAL JAPANESE-ENGLISH PRE-SCHOOL OR DAYCARE FOR CHILDREN 0-9+, ADULT LANGUAGE CLASSES, CULTURAL AND FAMILY EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND PANELS, AND AFTER-SCHOOL EVENTS, CAMPS, AND WEEKEND ACTIVITIES.

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 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 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 August 2016.

    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: Arizona Community Foundation (Phoenix, AZ), EIN 86-0348306. 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.