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Aya Foundation

EIN 85-2802236 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO LEAD AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION BY SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY BUILD THEIR WEALTH THROUGH ACCESS TO EDUCATION, TRAINING, NETWORKS, AND FUNDING.

Income
$522,887
Spending
$782,909
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
1
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$183,425, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 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 (4)
  1. $178,855 spent. AYA PROGRAMS: AYA FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH A SERIES OF PROGRAMS AIMED AT INCREASING THEIR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND STRENGTHENING THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY. OUR PROGRAMS SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SOCIAL CAPITAL AND FOUNDATIONAL TRAINING. IN 2024 WE SUPPORTED 207 ENTREPRENEURS. WE SERVED 48 ASPIRING AND CURRENT BUSINESS OWNERS IN JUMPSTART MY BUSINESS, 27 WITH ONE-TO-ONE PEER BUSINESS COACHING, 20 WITH BOOKKEEPING SUPPORT AND COACHING, 9 WITH CREDIT REPAIR SUPPORT, AND 105 FOR WHO WE MADE CONNECTIONS. IN TOTAL, WE PROVIDED 835 TOUCHPOINTS FOR COLORADO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
  2. $137,024 spent. AYA GRANTS: IN THE SPIRIT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS GIFTS THAT OFTEN SUPPORT START UP BUSINESS OWNERS FROM MORE AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES, AYA PROVIDED $306,570 IN START UP BUSINESS GRANTS TO 8 COLORADO ENTREPRENEURS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF INDUSTRIES, TO SUPPORT THE LAUNCH OR GROWTH OF THEIR BUSINESSES.
  3. $109,666 spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS. OUR FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IS AIMED AT SUPPORTING FOR-PROFIT START UP AND SMALL BUSINESS THAT ARE DOING WORK THAT BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PARTNERS ELEVATE THE HISTORY AND IMPACT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY, OR TEND TO A GAP AND NEED THAT IS GOING UNMET. IN 2024 WE SUPPORTED THREE SMALL FOR-PROFITS IN THEIR PHILANTHROPIC WORK TO SUPPORT THE BLACK COMMUNITY: MY SKIN GLOBAL, THERAPISTS OF COLOR COLLABORATIVE AND THE 1917 RANCH AT DEARFIELD.
  4. $19,761 spent. OTHER FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS

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 November 6, 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 March 2021.

    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 November 4, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Ab Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 27-5278038. 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.