Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Dawa - Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action

EIN 83-3366932 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DAWA HONORS, CELEBRATES, AND EMPOWERS THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF COMMUNITY FRONTLINERS AND CREATIVES OF COLOR THROUGH DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT, AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT HEALTH-CENTERED PROGRAMMING.

Income
$523,726
Spending
$598,070
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$73,542, director

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

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    51% 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $165,154 spent. DAWA DISTRIBUTED 165k TO MORE THAN 200 BIPOC COMMUNITY FRONTLINERS TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS,
  2. $40,979 spent. DAWA STUDIOS PROVIDED MORE THAN 800 HOURS OF FREE STUDIO TIME TO OVER 200 BIPOC CREATIVES,IN ADDITON, 30K WAS ALLOCATED TO THE STUDIO MANAGER WHO PROVIDED HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTION AND ENGINEERING TO THE CREATIVES AND 10K WAS ALLOCATED TO EQUIPMENT PURCHASE
  3. $43,800 spent. DAWA FUND TO SUPPORT AUSTINS CREATIVE ECONOMY THROUGH EVENTS AND PROGRAMS IN 2025. ADDITON, 43K WAS ALLOCATED TO THE DAWA FUND MANAGER WHO PROVIDED HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTION AND ENGINEERING TO THE CREATIVES
  4. Program Service Expenses 11,159, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 VISION 8291-DAWA ALLOCATED OVER 11K THROUGH VISION 8291 EVENTS AND PROGRAMS IN 2025
  5. Program Service Expenses 41,203, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 DAWA ALLOCATED OVER 41K TO SUPPORT AUSTINS CREATIVE ECONOMY THROUGH 4 DAWA FEST

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2023.

    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 January 2024.

    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.