African Institute for Children Studies
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 41% 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
We are committed to fostering a comprehensive, supportive, responsive, and nurturing world for every child.
- Income
- $285,614
- Spending
- $285,614
- Spent on programs
- 41%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 59%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $72,813, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 100% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 119% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1541% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 (2)
- $31,811 spent. Localization Program- Localization brings together a pool of organizations across Eat Africa who want to reimagine humanitarian action. AICS is the secretariat of the Consortium for Re-imagining Humanitarian Action. It is the umbrella organisation hosting organisations that want to be at the forefront of identifying problems in their catchment areas and being the deliverers of the solutions.
- $84,809 spent. Freedom Fund - NIA Program: The Not Invisible Anymore NIA program also translates to purpose or intention in Swahili. The program-works in partnership with frontline organisations to create an empowered collective of child domestic workers, their allies, civic organisations and government institutions to protect children in domestic work from abuse and exploitation. The NIA program prioritises working with the most vulnerable children with lived experience of child domestic work and those at risk of engaging in child domestic work. This includes children who are orphaned, child mothers, adolescents in educational transition, and children in female-headed households.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 May 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 February 2022.
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.