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Borderlinks

EIN 86-0760505 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak27 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BORDERLINKS IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION WHERE PEOPLE COLLECTIVELY LEARN, TEACH, REFLECT, SHARE RESOURCES, AND ORGANIZE FOR JUSTICE IN THE BORDERLANDS. THROUGH POPULAR EDUCATION ROOTED IN PLACE AND LIVED EXPERIENCE, BORDERLINKS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS INSPIRE AND IGNITE ACTION TO TRANSFORM UNJUST BORDER AND (IM)MIGRATION LAWS AND CONDITIONS. WE BELONG TO MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION & COLLECTIVE LIBERATION. BORDERLINKS FOLLOWS A PLACE-BASED, POPULAR EDUCATION MODEL, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY BORDER POLICIES. BORDERLINKS OFFERS DELEGATIONS (IMMERSION TRAVEL PROGRAMS) AND WORKSHOPS IN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO THAT FOCUS ON ISSUES RELATING TO MIGRATION, HISTORY, BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

Income
$769,371
Spending
$934,650
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
16
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$64,260, co-director

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: 27 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 37 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 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 (1)
  1. $711,389 spent. HUNDREDS OF DIVERSE PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE US AND BEYOND PARTICIPATED IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, ALONG BOTH SIDES OF THE US-MEXICO BORDER. THESE DELEGATIONS (IMMERSION PROGRAMS) VARY IN LENGTH FROM 1 DAY TO SEVERAL WEEKS. SHORTER WORKSHOPS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS ARE ALSO OFFERED TO CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. BORDERLINKS OFFERS IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING OPTIONS. PARTICIPANTS LEARN FIRST-HAND ABOUT MANY COMPLEX ISSUES RELATING TO IMMIGRATION, INCLUDING SOCIAL JUSTICE, BORDER MILITARIZATION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, BY MEETING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE BORDERLANDS, AND ENGAGING IN REFLECTION AND ACTION-PLANNING. BORDERLINKS ALSO OFFERS STAFF TIME, DORM AND MEETING SPACE, OR OTHER SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION. HUNDREDS OF DIVERSE PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE US AND BEYOND PARTICIPATED IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, ALONG BOTH SIDES OF THE US-MEXICO BORDER. THESE DELEGATIONS (IMMERSION PROGRAMS) VARY IN LENGTH FROM 1 DAY TO SEVERAL WEEKS. SHORTER WORKSHOPS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS ARE ALSO OFFERED TO CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. BORDERLINKS OFFERS IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING OPTIONS. PARTICIPANTS LEARN FIRST-HAND ABOUT MANY COMPLEX ISSUES RELATING TO IMMIGRATION, INCLUDING SOCIAL JUSTICE, BORDER MILITARIZATION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, BY MEETING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE BORDERLANDS, AND ENGAGING IN REFLECTION AND ACTION-PLANNING. BORDERLINKS ALSO OFFERS STAFF TIME, DORM AND MEETING SPACE, OR OTHER SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION.

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 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 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 August 1994.

    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.

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.