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Yemeni American Merchants Associations Inc

EIN 82-3539502 · Bronx, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

THE YEMENI AMERICAN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (YAMA) SEEKS TO EDUCATE AND ELEVATE YEMENI-AMERICAN MERCHANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH EDUCATION, CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY, BUSINESS AND SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORT.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
13
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$126,346, chief operating officer

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

Financial health

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 155% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 84% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $364,579 spent. * Educate: Educating the Yemeni American merchants through programs, campaigns, and collaborations. We aim to enhance, strengthen, and train the Yemeni American community to be professional in their interactions, self-sufficient individuals that improve the makeup and development of their communities. We also provide programming for merchants wives on parenting, health/wellness, and the importance of education. Our goal is to help merchants wives and daughters to become self-sufficient and financially independent through ESL classes for women college and career readiness, and leadership programs.
  2. $264,561 spent. * Advocate: Advocating on behalf of Yemeni Americans to protect their rights, empower them, and build coalitions that promote justice as well as encouragement to the Yemeni American community to be more civically engaged. We advocate on behalf of Yemeni American clients to elected officials to reunite separated families with senators and congressional leaders. We work to challenge hate, e.g., our merchant-led boycott of the New York Post, and decrease hate crimes. YAMA has partnerships with a lawyer who provides pro bono consultation and assistance for clients at our office biweekly. Also, we hired a part-time immigration attorney, and a full-time immigration case manager to help merchants and their workers with any immigration assistance they need.
  3. $516,895 spent. * Elevate Organizing trades and business deals among the Yemeni American communities and the outside world to obtain financial and service privileges that facilitate the advancement of Yemeni American society as a whole. We also strive to keep pace with commercial industry changes and create new opportunities for small business owners. We are also supporting Yemeni women to start their own businesses by supporting Yemeni women-led bazaars being held across the city. This program has not been fully launched yet as we are still exploring means to execute it. In the meantime, we only provide Business related assistance, especially after COVID. Like, apply for loans, or government relief grants for small businesses. Also, we provide starting new business consultants, licenses, and some violations remedy through our Pro bono attorneys.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 February 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 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.