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Afro Caribbean Cultural Center Inc

EIN 88-2014721 · Waterbury, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 50% 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

The Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center empowers Afro-Caribbean Black and Tano communities through the arts education and activism. This includes strategies that foster youth education & self-determination deepening community connections and preserving Afro-Latino Black & Tano cultures. While building our organizational capacity to uplift our community and celebrate our rich heritage with confidence and purpose across generations.

Income
$285,815
Spending
$335,451
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$20,375, cfo

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: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    50% 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 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 (6)
  1. $20,000 spent. Taino Learning Community: A membership driven learning community of individuals who have Taino decendency and heritage to learn about the culture traditions and roots of Taino Culture.
  2. $68,000 spent. Cuyo: Summer and Fall Youth Leadership Program for youth ages 11 - 17 years old. Providing youth Restorative & Social Justice Sports Arts and Theater programming year round to help improve and build confidency skills and knowledge.
  3. $3,987 spent. Palante Theater Company: Palante Theater unapologetically presents opportunities to create produce and perform representations of the arts. Palante through the arts seeks to provide visibility for various marginalized communities i.e. Afro-Caribbean Black Latino LGTQIA+ and Youth.
  4. C.A.C.I.Q.U.E.: exists to share our belief that restorative justice peace circle process is a great tool for self governance and can be used to support the contributions of all community members in all of the aspects of life in a community; governance problem-solving addressing harm celebration etc.
  5. Multigenerational Cultural Education: Exists to position ACCC as the leader and expert in Afro-Caribbean Black & Taino culture through the arts workshops exhibitions and speaker series throughout Connecticut.
  6. $75,000 spent. Greater Waterbury Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival: Exists to celebrate and highlight the rich Puerto Rican diaspora in Greater Waterbury through planning and executing of the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival.

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

  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 2025.

    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 May 2022.

    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.