The American Foundation for Charitable Support Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND FACILITATE THE PRIVATIZATION OF PHILANTHROPY, AND HELP CHARITIES BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL.1. WHAT WE MEAN BY PRIVATIZATION OF PHILANTHROPY. PRIVATIZATION OF PHILANTHROPY MEANS CREATING ENDOWMENTS OR FAMILY FOUNDATIONS WHERE THERE IS ONGOING DONOR (OR DONOR FAMILY) INVOLVEMENT AND DIRECTION OVER CHARITABLE GRANT MAKING.2. ACHIEVING OUR MISSION. WE ACHIEVE OUR MISSION BY CREATING INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS, MOSTLY IN THE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS PUBLIC CHARITY SETTING WHERE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CORPORATE EXECUTIVES RETAIN THE ONGOING DIRECTION OVER CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTUIONS.3. RESULTS OF OUR MISSION. OUR MISSION AND EFFORTS WILL RESULT IN THE CREATION OF VAST AMOUNTS OF NEW AND MORE EFFECTIVE PHILANTHROPY.WE ARE DEVELOPING NEW CHARITABLE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP CHARITIES IMPROVE THEIR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, HUMAN RESOURCES.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 64.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 46%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $199,671, president/direc
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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 64.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 79% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% 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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $1.1 million spent. PROVIDING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,107,190.ALLOCATED COSTS INCURRED IN ADMINISTRATION OF CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS, PROGRAM PRESENTATION COSTS TO GROUPS, AND OTHERS, AND DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS AND OTHER COSTS RELATING TO CHARITABLE PROGRAMS.ALLOCATED COSTS INCLUDE ALL COSTS THAT PERTAIN TO SUPPORTING AND EFFECTUATION, EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF THE AFCS. THIS MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND FACILITATE THE PRIVATIZATION OF PHILANTHROPY, THEREBY CREATING VAST AMOUNTS OF NEW AND MORE EFFECTIVE PHILANTHROPY. INCLUDED IN THESE COSTS ARE ADMISTRATIVE EXPENSES (WHICH INCLUDE ON-GOING TRUST ADMINISTRATION COSTS OF INDIVIDUAL FAMILY FOUNDATIONS AND CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUSTS), PRINTING EXPENSES, TRAVEL AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENSES, POSTAGE, SOFTWARE, SUPPLIES, OUT-SOURCING COSTS AND COSTS INCURRED IN ASSISTING OTHER CHARITIES.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.