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Umoja Village

EIN 85-4066068 · Aiken, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 37% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

To cultivate a more diverse equitable and inclusive environment within our communities by focusing on unity and connecting clients to needed resources for the betterment of the underserved underrepresented marginalized and those to whom the effects of prejudice or systemic bias have impacted.

Income
$126,881
Spending
$325,726
Spent on programs
37%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$85,008, ceo cofounder

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 157% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    37% 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 76% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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.

  • 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. $38,504 spent. Umoja means unity in the Swahili language. In 2025 Umoja Village organized the third Unity Weekend which featured two distinct events to celebrate culture and history and to enlighten and educate the community. Event #1 was Unity Golf Tournament where we raised over 15,000 to be used towards our crime prevention plan activities and for our Richard Johnson Jr. Umoja Village Resource Center. Event #2 is named Shoutfest Unityfest which is the largest free outdoor Gospel festival in this area. The event attracts over 4,000 people and features all-day music performances; over 50 vendors and a tremendous Kidszone. This event is open to the public and well supported by the community.
  2. $15,930 spent. Umoja Village created an initiative as part of the Umoja Village Rebuilding The Foundation Crime Prevention Plan entitled Project Bounce Back. This initiative works with the adult second chance population. Any client who requests assistance from Umoja Village with housing assistance transportation services job creation initiatives etc. is required to establish a Life Action Plan. From there Umoja Village provides support services to address any barriers to help them move forward with life. Another adult second chance initiative supported by Umoja Village was the Heads In Beds initiative where we provided beds or other essential furniture to clients who found stable housing from previously being unhoused.
  3. $29,000 spent. Umoja Village Funding Allocation Process: As part of the Umoja Village Rebuilding The Foundation Crime Prevention Plan one of the primary strategies is to assist with the development of small minority business development. Umoja Village became a collaborating partner in the Aiken Business Coalition Entrepreneurship Program with the local chambers of commerce the City of Aiken Security Federal Bank and others. After vetted businesses complete an eight-week business training they were awarded grants for their businesses.
  4. $37,800 spent. Annual Black History Community Celebration; Annual Umoja Village Celebrates Black Excellence wall calendars. Because Umoja Village promotes unity we exemplify unity by collaborating with other organizations or by sponsoring events that align with our mission. 2025 marked our 5th year anniversary. So we conducted a drop in at our Richard Johnson Jr. Umoja Village Resource Center and launched our first year round fundraiser entitled Unity Works. We also conducted the first Under His Wings Brunch and Resource Fair for the underserved population of widows and widowers.

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 July 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 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.