Aoba Educational Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AOBA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (AEF), A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THE TALENT CRISIS IN THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY BY FOCUSING ON THE CRITICAL NEED TO PROMOTE CAREERS IN BUILDING OPERATIONS, ENGINEERING, AND MAINTENANCE. WE CONNECT JOB SEEKERS, TRAINING CENTERS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND EMPLOYERS ALL TO HELP COMPANIES RECRUIT, DEVELOP, TRAIN, AND RETAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED TRADESPEOPLE IN THE METRO DC REGION. OUR WORK PROVIDES LONG-TERM, TANGIBLE ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY TO STABLE, LUCRATIVE CAREERS. FOR YEARS, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MANAGERS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED TO RECRUIT, HIRE, AND RETAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUILDING OPERATIONS EMPLOYEES. IN RESPONSE TO THIS PRESSING NEED, THE AEF WAS FORMED AS A VEHICLE TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE, REGIONAL SOLUTION TO WHAT MANY REFER TO AS THE ENGINEERING TALENT CRISIS. ALTHOUGH OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS FOCUSED ON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CAREERS, WE ARE ALSO TAK
- Income
- $261,657
- Spending
- $276,153
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 16.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 0
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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $187,542 spent. THE MAIN PURPOSE AND UNDERTAKING OF THE AEF IS TO ADDRESS A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TALENT CRISES BY FOCUSING ON THE CRITICAL NEED TO PROMOTE CAREERS IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE. TO FACILITATE THIS PURPOSE THE AEF LAUNCHED THE OFFICE BUILDING ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. PROGRAM REVENUE AND EXPENSES WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHING AND OPERATION OF A DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL, MARKETING, AND RECRUITMENT OUTREACH, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, TO PROMOTE BUILDING ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE CAREERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. TO FACILITATE THIS PURPOSE, THE AEF LAUNCHED THE OFFICE BUILDING ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
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
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 December 2024.
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 July 2018.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Educational Foundation Inc (Chapel Hill, NC), EIN 56-6058412. 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.