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African Middle Eastern Leadership Project

EIN 81-4648053 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN LEADERSHIP PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO MOBILIZE, EMPOWER, AND UNITE YOUNG LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA TO BUILD RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES THAT ARE FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, PERSECUTION, AND VIOLENT COERCION, AND TO ADVOCATE SUPPORTING POLICIES.

Income
$703,251
Spending
$714,286
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$135,455, president

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $339,382 spent. AMEL ALLYSHIP AND ISSUE EDUCATION - BROUGHT TOGETHER YOUNG LEADERS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA (MEA) WITH PEERS, DIASPORA AND OTHER LEADERS TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, COLLABORATE ON ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN AND INCREASE SAFETY OF MEA ACTIVISTS. RAISED AWARENESS AMONG U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL LEADERS AND THE PUBLICS ABOUT MEA-RELATED ISSUES IN ORDER TO ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS. EMPOWERED MEA ACTIVISTS AND DIASPORA TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCOURSE ABOUT THIS REGION AND ITS PEOPLE. PROVIDED INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS ABOUT DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE IN SUDAN AND SURROUNDING REGION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE. PROVIDED SUPPORT TO ACTIVISTS FACING RISKS AND CRISES IN AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST AND NEARBY REGIONS. BUILT AND NURTURED RELATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS SEEKING TO BRIDGE DIVIDES, COOPERATE ON SHARED VALUES AND CHALLENGES.
  2. $229,090 spent. AMEL INSTITUTE - TRAINED HUNDREDS OF YOUNG CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS IN SUDAN AND ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA THROUGH ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMS COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT, PEACE & CONFLICT, NONVIOLENT MOVEMENT-BUILDING, LEVERAGING NEW MEDIA. KEY LESSONS ABOUT THESE TOPICS WERE ALSO SPREAD TO THOUSANDS OF SUDANESE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING SESSIONS. ALUMNI FROM THESE AND PREVIOUS TRAINING PROGRAMS WERE CONTINUALLY ENGAGED THROUGH WEBINARS, NETWORKING AND AWARENESS INITIATIVES.
  3. $967 spent. AMEL INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES - AMEL HELPS DEVELOP INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE MEA REGION AND IN RELATED COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. WE PROVIDE INNOVATIVE CHANGE-MAKERS AND INITIATIVES WITH GUIDANCE, MENTORING, SUPPORT AND, IN SOME CASES FISCAL SPONSORSHIP, SO THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE INITIATIVES INTO SUCCESSFUL ACTIONS. IN 2024 AMEL PRIMARILY ASSISTED INDEPENDENT ACTIVISTS AND LIKEMINDED GROUPS. AMEL CONTINUED TO SERVE AS INCUBATOR FOR THE INTER JEWISH MUSLIM ALLIANCE (IJMA) ALTHOUGH ITS ACTIVITIES WERE PAUSED DURING 2024.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 2017.

    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 October 21, 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.