Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cofa Creating Opportunities for All

EIN 87-3873008 · Takoma Park, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COFA MAKES GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, BOTH TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS REGISTERED IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND TO UNITED STATES BASED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS.

Income
$251,505
Spending
$236,050
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps 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.

  • 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 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 (9)
  1. $72,500 spent. GROWING FAMILY PROSPERITYNOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, THIS 12-MONTH AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE BASIC FARMING SUPPLIES AND GUIDANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, TO ENABLE FAMILIES TO GROW CROPS AND THEREBY PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND SELL THE SURPLUS TO PRODUCE INCOME. ALL SUPPLIES AND SALARIES FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER, A TRAINED AGRONOMIST, AND EXTENSION WORKERS ARE FUNDED BY COFA. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE FIELD TRAINING FROM THE PROJECT STAFF TO GROW RICE, GROUNDNUTS, CUCUMBERS, PEPPERS, OKRA, CASSAVA, AND POTATOES. IN ADDITION, EACH FAMILY RECEIVES A PAIR OF GOATS AND CHICKENS. HARVESTS AND SEED BANKING, FOR FUTURE CROPS, TAKE PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. THE FIRST TWO CLASSES OF 30 AND 25 FAMILIES COMPLETED THEIR FIRST AND SECOND YEARS AND ARE ON THE PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THEY ARE NOT BEING SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY BY COFA, BUT ARE STILL RECEIVING REGULAR VISITS FROM STAFF AND ADVICE. ALL 30 FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BY SENDING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, PURCHASING MORE LAND TO FARM, PAYING OFF DEBTS, IMPROVING THEIR HOMES, ETC. A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROCESS CASSAVA ROOT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 3 VILLAGES, WITH COFA PROVIDING THE A MACHINE TO GRIND AND DRY THE CASSAVA.
  2. $59,000 spent. NOURISHING YOUNG MINDS AND BODIESTHIS MONTH-LONG SCHOOL AND FEEDING PROGRAM OPERATES DURING JULY-AUGUST, WHEN FOOD SUPPLIES ARE LOWEST AND MANY PEOPLE SUBSIST ON A SINGLE MEAL EACH DAY, AND WHEN THE REGULAR SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. INITIATED IN 2020 IN FOUR SCHOOLS AND PAID FOR PRIVATELY BY COFA'S FOUNDER AND A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN, IN 2022 IT RECEIVED FOUNDATION FUNDING TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM TEACHING AND PROVIDE DAILY LUNCH IN 11 SCHOOLS IN THE LUNSAR REGION FOR MORE THAN 2,500 PRIMARY- AND SECONDARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A MONTH'S SALARY TO THE TEACHERS AND THE LOCAL WOMEN WHO PREPARE THE DAILY LUNCH. RICE IS PURCHASED FROM FARMERS WHO ARE SUPPORTED BY COFA'S GROWING FAMILY PROSPERITY.IN JULY, THE PROGRAM SUPPORTED 10 JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, PROVIDING CLASSES AND LUNCH TO MORE THAN 1000 STUDENTS PREPARING FOR THE BASIC EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (BECE). IN AUGUST, MORE THAN 1000 PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 10 SCHOOLS ALSO HAD LESSONS AND LUNCH. AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, 100 STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL WERE GIVEN SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT THEM FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.
  3. $34,500 spent. KING KAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL COFA HAS BEEN PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE KING KAMA PRIMARY SCHOOL IN LUNSAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IT IS A SCHOOL RUN BY PARENTS, AND TEACHERS WERE WORKING FOR NO SALARY BEFORE COFA STEPPED IN. OUR CONTRIBUTIONS PAY STIPENDS FOR ALL THE TEACHERS, LUNCH EVERY DAY FOR 200 STUDENTS AND 15 STAFF, AS WELL AS PAY FOR THE LOCAL WOMEN WHO PREPARE THE MEALS.
  4. $11,000 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS
  5. $8,000 spent. BACHELOR'S DEGREE FOR ADAMA SESAYCOFA BEGAN SUPPORTING ADAMA, AN ORPHAN, THROUGH HER SECONDARY EDUCATION AT EDUNATIONS SCHOOL IN ROKASSA. SHE GRADUATED WITH HONORS IN 2023 AND HAS NOW COMPLETED HER FIRST YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAKENI. COFA HAS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING HER THROUGH HER DEGREE. SHE IS ALSO WORKING AT A WOMAN-OWNED BIKE SHOP SUPPORTED BY KARIM KAMARA.
  6. $7,000 spent. MPH FOR ABDUL KAMARAABDUL KAMARA, WHO HAS WORKED WITH COFA PROJECTS SINCE THEY BEGAN, HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE DESIRE TO FURTHER HIS PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION. COFA HAS FUNDED HIS STUDIES FOR A MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE AT THE FREETOWN CAMPUS OF NJALA UNIVERSITY. THE PROGRAM IS RUN AS AN INTENSIVE WEEKEND PROGRAM, WHEREBY STUDENTS CONTINUE TO WORK DURING THE WEEK AND COME TO FREETOWN TO STUDY SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. ABDUL COMPLETED HIS CLASSWORK IN 2024 AND WILL COMPLETE HIS THESIS IN 2025.
  7. $6,500 spent. RESEED FUNDING RESEED IS A MICROFINANCE PROGRAM IN SIERRA LEONE. COFA PROVIDED ITS ORIGINAL FUNDING AND HAS CONTRIBUTED SINCE THEN TO INCREASE ITS CAPITALIZATION. IN 2024, COFA PROVIDED FUNDS FOR A LOAN FOR A LOCAL RESTAURANT.
  8. $6,000 spent. SLMB BUILDINGCOFA PROVIDED FUNDS TO BUILD ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM AS THE SLMB SECONDARY SCHOOL IN MAKENI
  9. $27,200 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.