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Maharat for Development

EIN 81-3828811 · Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MAHARAT FOR DEVELOPMENT WORKS TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE INDIVIDUALS BY MONITORING THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED NEWS AND INFORMATION THROUGH CREATING AND CONTINUOUSLY UPDATING A DATABASE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION VIOLATIONS AND CHALLENGES TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL INTERVENTIONS AND SOLUTIONS AND THROUGH RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE ISSUES OF THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT IN THE ARAB WORLD. THE ACTIVITIES AIM AT ENGAGING AND EQUIPPING A PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY IN LEBANON AND THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO CREATE CHANGE, IN ADDITION TO ENHANCING THE CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN LEBANON, STRENGTHENING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM WITHIN THE REGION, AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT ADVANCE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION INCLUDING INTERNET FREEDOM WITHIN LEBANON AND THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA.

Income
$75,200
Spending
$75,200
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
4

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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. $71,484 spent. MAHARAT FOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS ITS BEIRUT BASED SISTER ORGANIZATION MAHARAT FOUNDATION ON ENGAGING AND INSPIRING CITIZENS BY MONITORING THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED NEWS AND INFORMATION THROUGH CREATING AND CONTINUOUSLY UPDATING A DATABASE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION VIOLATIONS AND CHALLENGES TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL INTERVENTIONS AND SOLUTIONS AND THROUGH RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE ISSUES OF THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT IN THE ARAB WORLD. THE ACTIVITIES AIM AT ENGAGING AND EQUIPPING A PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY IN LEBANON AND THE MENA REGION WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO CREATE CHANGE, IN ADDITION TO ENHANCING THE CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN LEBANON, STRENGTHENING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM WITHIN THE REGION, AND ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT ADVANCE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION INCLUDING INTERNET FREEDOM WITHIN LEBANON AND THE MENA REGION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 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 March 2017.

    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.

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