Banu Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BANU FOUNDATION IS DEVOTED TO THREE GOALS: EMPOWERING, PROTECTING, AND EDUCATING AT-RISK CHILDREN AND WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD.
- Income
- $65,000
- Spending
- $53,157
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 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 (3)
- FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT THE U.S. BORDER THE BANU FOUNDATION HELD AN EDUCATIONAL FORUM ON DECEMBER 15, 2023, AT NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. THE PANEL DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING CRISIS AFFECTING MIGRANTS. DISCUSSION TOPICS INCLUDE THE BELOW INITIATIVES INTENDED TO PREVENT THE TRAFFICKING OF MIGRANTS, REMOVE MIGRANTS FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARRANGEMENTS, AND PUNISH SMUGGLERS AND CONTRIBUTORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING: RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE RISKS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THROUGH CAMPAIGNS EXECUTED AT THE GRASSROOTS AND NATIONAL LEVEL. PREVENTION MEASURES - INCLUDING PROVIDING CONCRETE INFORMATION ON SAFE AND LEGAL MIGRATION AND EMPLOYMENT. TARGETING AND IDENTIFYING TRAFFICKERS. CAPACITY BUILDING TO ENABLE GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY, REFER, AND ASSIST VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING. ADVOCACY TO ENSURE THAT POLICIES, REGULATIONS, AND LEGISLATION ADHERE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF PROTECTION, PREVENTION, PROSECUTION, AND PARTNERSHIP. SAFE AND ORDERLY REINTEGRATION INTO COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES THROUGH PSYCHOLOGICAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE, FAMILY SUPPORT, EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND MORE.SPEAKERS REPRESENTED: NURSES UNITED AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FUNDACIN PARA LA LIBERTAD DE NICARAGUA, KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE (KIND), AND TWENTYFOUR-SEVEN (A HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR-LED ORGANIZATION). PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY THIRTY INDIVIDUALS, PREDOMINANTLY FROM THE FIELDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PHILANTHROPY, AND EDUCATION. THE FORUM WAS ALSO FILMED AND DISTRIBUTED VIRTUALLY TO OVER ONE-HUNDRED VIEWERS. SHORT AND LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO ENCOURAGE INFORMATION SHARING AND BEST PRACTICES, RAISE AWARENESS, FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND ULTIMATELY REDUCE HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES AMONG MIGRANTS.
- YOUTH EDUCATION AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING THE BANU FOUNDATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WASHINGTON, DC POLICE FOUNDATION, INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN (ICAC), AND THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT (MPD), HELD HUMAN TRAFFICKING EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS AT SCHOOLS IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS OF WASHINGTON, DC. TWO SESSIONS WERE HELD: MARCH 25, 2024 AT STANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND JUNE 3, 2024 AT HARRIET TUBMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BOTH IN WASHINGTON, DC. APPROXIMATELY 125 STUDENTS, AND 15 TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ATTENDED THE SESSIONS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUTH ARE UNAWARE OF THE REALITIES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ARE THEREFORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS CRIME. ADDITIONALLY, TRAFFICKING CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN ARE INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO PROVE BECAUSE YOUTH VICTIMS ARE UNAWARE THAT THE OCCURRENCE CONSTITUTES A CRIME. THEREFORE, THIS PROGRAMMING IS DESIGNED TO IMMEDIATELY EDUCATE CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS SO THEY CAN RECOGNIZE, AVOID, AND REPORT HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRUSTED FIGURES. THE LONGER-TERM GOAL IS TO REDUCE INSTANCES OF YOUTH HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
- COMBATTING LABOR TRAFFICKING WITH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIESTHE BANU FOUNDATION HELD AN INITIATIVE AT THE CENTER FOR ADVANCED DEFENSE STUDIES (C4ADS) ON JULY 16, 2024. THE EDUCATION FORUM FOCUSED ON UTILIZING INNOVATIVE TECH TO COMBAT LABOR TRAFFICKING, WHICH HAS A UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES THAN SEX TRAFFICKING. DISCUSS TOPICS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: LEVERAGING DATA AND TECHNOLOGY TO STOP FORCED LABOR IN JURISDICTIONS THAT THE U.S. HAS LESS ACCESS TO, SUCH AS CHINA. HIGHLIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN ANTI-TRAFFICKING TECHNOLOGY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CONDUCT THROUGH DUE DILIGENCE, SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSPARENCY, FINANCIAL INCLUSION, AND UNIQUE DATASETS. MANUFACTURERS AND GOVERNMENTS' USE OF DATA AND ADVANCED TECH TO IDENTIFY BAD ACTORS WITHIN SUPPLY CHAINS AND PREVENT THE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTS MADE THROUGH FORCED LABOR. LAW ENFORCEMENT'S USE OF FACIAL RECOGNITION ALGORITHMS, ENHANCED VIDEO ANALYTIC CAPABILITIES, AND EVEN A TATTOO-MATCHING SOLUTION TO CAPTURE TRAFFICKERS. SPEAKERS REPRESENTED: THE WASHINGTON POST, C4ADS, EAGLE FREEDOM FUND, EVIDENCITY, THOMSON REUTERS SPECIAL SERVICES, AND NEC NATIONAL SECURITY. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY FIFTY INDIVIDUALS FROM THE FIELDS OF TECHNOLOGY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS, ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING, EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY. THE SHORT AND LONG-TERM GOALS ARE TO RAISE AWARENESS, ENCOURAGE DIALOGUE, ADVOCATE FOR THE ENHANCEMENT AND USE OF IMPACTFUL TECH, AND FORM PARTNERSHIPS AND ALLIANCES ALL WITH THE INTENT TO IDENTIFY AND DISMANTLE LABOR TRAFFICKING.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending October 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on March 15, 2024 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on March 15, 2024.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 October 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 April 2025.
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 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.