The Korean American Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 24% 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
KOREAN AMERICAN INSTITUTE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO CREATE AN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY WHERE KOREAN AMERICANS MATTER BY PRODUCING AND SHARING INSIGHTUL AND ACTIONABLE RESEARCH TO IMPROVE DECISION MAKING ON ISSUES FACING KOREAN AMERICANS.
- Income
- $552,155
- Spending
- $620,645
- Spent on programs
- 24%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $250,000, president
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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 823% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1524% 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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
7 of 7Has a 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
- $77,000 spent. KAI'S FIRST PROGRAM IN 2025 WAS TO LAUNCH A PROJECT TO CONDUCT A NATIONAL SURVEY OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TARGETING A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 1,500 INDIVIDUALS. USING PHONE AND ONLINE QUESTIONS, THE SURVEY IS DESIGNED TO ASCERTAIN THE MOST UP TO DATE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND ATTITUDES ABOUT VARIOUS ISSUES TO REFLECT THE CURRENT STATE OF KOREANS AND KOREAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS A TWO-YEAR PROJECT AND KAI SPENT $77,000 DURING 2025.
- $17,500 spent. KAI'S SECOND PROGRAM IN 2025 WAS CONDUCTING ORIGINAL RESEARCH TO DETERMINE THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY KOREAN AMERICANS TO THE ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES. KAI COMMISSIONED AN ECONOMIST TO LEAD THIS PROJECT WHICH SHOULD BE CONCLUDED BY SUMMER OF 2026. KAI PLANS TO PUBLISH THE RESULTS ON ITS WEBSITE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. KAI PLANS TO SHARE THE FINDINGS WITH POLICYMAKERS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, AND INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONS. KAI SPENT $17,500 DURING 2025.
- $53,325 spent. KAI'S THIRD PROGRAM IN 2025 WAS TO HOST A NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO EDUCATE THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ON POLICY ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE. OVER THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 12-14, 2025, OVER 125 INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS THE NATION GATHERED IN PHILADELPHIA TO HEAR FROM EXPERTS AND TO SHARE IDEAS ON HOW TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. KAI SPENT $53,324.77 ON THE VENUE, SET UP, WEBSITE, AUDIO/VIDEO, TRAVEL, MEALS, AND OTHER MEETING EXPENSES.
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 September 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.