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Ojala Foundation

EIN 82-5330324 · Berwyn, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OJALA FOUNDATION, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, PRIDES ITSELF ON THE BRIDGES IT BUILDS BETWEEN THE MUSLIM AND LATINO COMMUNITIES, WHILE ALSO ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING COMMUNITY SPACES AT THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF THOSE IDENTITIES. INAUGURATED BY LATINO MUSLIMS, WE ALWAYS ENDEAVOR TO HAVE AN OPEN AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY, ONE UNITED UNDER ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES AND EDUCATION, AND DRIVING A POSITIVE FORCE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THROUGH OUR NETWORKS.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$284,786
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$62,400, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 75% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 66% 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    9 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, 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 (4)
  1. $169,492 spent. NEIGHBORLY DEEDS: NEIGHBORLY DEEDS IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE RAPIDLY RISING HOMELESS POPULATION IN CHICAGO. WITHOUT FAIL, EVERY FRIDAY WE DISTRIBUTE WARM MEALS AND COMPASSION TO THOSE IN NEED. OJALA FOUNDATION MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS' TEAM UP TO PACKAGE HOME-COOKED MEALS AND OTHER ESSENTIALS LIKE BLANKETS, CLOTHES, AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO DISTRIBUTE TO OUR LESS FORTUNATE NEIGHBORS. THE PANDEMIC HAD NOT STOPPED THIS EFFORT, AND EVEN NOW THE INITIATIVE GROWS STRONGER. THIS IS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO UNDERTAKE, EVERY WEEK NO MATTER THE WEATHER HOT, COLD, RAIN, OR PANDEMIC. OFTEN, THE FUNDS, FOOD, AND CLOTHES COME FROM OUR OWN MEMBERS AND THROUGH GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM KIND SOULS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE RISE ABOVE OUR OWN SELVES, DEDICATING A NIGHT A WEEK TO GIVE OUT WHAT ALLAH HAS ALREADY BLESSED US WITH. NEIGHBORLY DEEDS: NEIGHBORLY DEEDS IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE RAPIDLY RISING HOMELESS POPULATION IN CHICAGO. WITHOUT FAIL, EVERY FRIDAY WE DISTRIBUTE WARM MEALS AND COMPASSION TO THOSE IN NEED. OJALA FOUNDATION MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS' TEAM UP TO PACKAGE HOME-COOKED MEALS AND OTHER ESSENTIALS LIKE BLANKETS, CLOTHES, AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO DISTRIBUTE TO OUR LESS FORTUNATE NEIGHBORS. THE PANDEMIC HAD NOT STOPPED THIS EFFORT, AND EVEN NOW THE INITIATIVE GROWS STRONGER. THIS IS A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO UNDERTAKE, EVERY WEEK NO MATTER THE WEATHER HOT, COLD, RAIN, OR PANDEMIC. OFTEN, THE FUNDS, FOOD, AND CLOTHES COME FROM OUR OWN MEMBERS AND THROUGH GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM KIND SOULS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE RISE ABOVE OUR OWN SELVES, DEDICATING A NIGHT A WEEK TO GIVE OUT WHAT ALLAH HAS ALREADY BLESSED US WITH.
  2. $83,807 spent. DAWAH & CONVERT CARE: MANY REVERTS ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO ALLOWED US TO REFLECT ON THE CONCEPT OF GOD, TO INITIATE OUR THOUGHT PROCESS ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MUSLIM. THIS IS OUR METHOD TO PAY IT FORWARD. OJALA FOUNDATION SETS UP SHOP AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS CHICAGO TO INVITE PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM AND MUSLIMS AND WELCOME THEM TO REFLECT ON THEIR OWN CONNECTION WITH THE CREATOR. LITERATURE AND MATERIAL ARE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE, EXTENDING TO ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO REQUESTS MATERIAL THROUGH MAIL OR VIRTUAL RESOURCES. DAWAH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY MUSLIM AND AN HONOR TO FULFILL. OUR EFFORTS CONTINUE TO REACH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED ISLAM. WE ARE PROOF THAT IT CAN BE, THAT THE JOURNEY MIGHT BE DIFFICULT BUT THAT IT IS FRUITFUL AND POSSIBLE. THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN TAKEN BY EVERY MEMBER, WHETHER BORN MUSLIM OR FOUND THROUGH OTHER'S EFFORTS OF DAWAH. THROUGH DIALOGUE AND EDUCATION, WE HOPE TO BRING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR FAITH AND BUILD A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO. DAWAH & CONVERT CARE: MANY REVERTS ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO ALLOWED US TO REFLECT ON THE CONCEPT OF GOD, TO INITIATE OUR THOUGHT PROCESS ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MUSLIM. THIS IS OUR METHOD TO PAY IT FORWARD. OJALA FOUNDATION SETS UP SHOP AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS CHICAGO TO INVITE PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM AND MUSLIMS AND WELCOME THEM TO REFLECT ON THEIR OWN CONNECTION WITH THE CREATOR. LITERATURE AND MATERIAL ARE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE, EXTENDING TO ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO REQUESTS MATERIAL THROUGH MAIL OR VIRTUAL RESOURCES. DAWAH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY MUSLIM AND AN HONOR TO FULFILL. OUR EFFORTS CONTINUE TO REACH PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED ISLAM. WE ARE PROOF THAT IT CAN BE, THAT THE JOURNEY MIGHT BE DIFFICULT BUT THAT IT IS FRUITFUL AND POSSIBLE. THE JOURNEY HAS BEEN TAKEN BY EVERY MEMBER, WHETHER BORN MUSLIM OR FOUND THROUGH OTHER'S EFFORTS OF DAWAH. THROUGH DIALOGUE AND EDUCATION, WE HOPE TO BRING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR FAITH AND BUILD A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN CHICAGO.
  3. $17,370 spent. ALL OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WHICH ARE RUN TIME TO TIME.
  4. ALL OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WHICH ARE RUN TIME TO TIME.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 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 September 2023.

    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.