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Life and Discovery Inc

EIN 86-1140556 · Frederick, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ALL IMMIGRANTS WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO BE INDEPENDENT AND SUCCESSFUL CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETY AT LARGE.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
50
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$135,479, executive director

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
  1. $594,093 spent. COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
  2. $669,873 spent. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES - AACF OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE, FAMILY CENTERED, COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS, CAREGIVERS AND THEIR CHILDREN, AGES BIRTH TO FOUR. THROUGH FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, AACF PROMOTES THE FULL DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN, ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF PARENT AND CHILD INTERACTIONS, AND SERVES AS THE LINK TO SERVICES FOR OVERALL PARENT AND FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
  3. $1.3 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT - AACF IS AN ACCREDITED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER (CHW) TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIP CENTER IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. CHWS ARE FRONTLINE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS WITH A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. BY CREATING THIS DIVERSE AND MULTILINGUAL WORKFORCE, AACF PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY RESIDENTS TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUITIES OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHILE INCREASING CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE.

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 2006.

    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.