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Kwame Charitable Foundation

EIN 88-4346912 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OKWAME CHARITABLE FOUNDATION STRIVES TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE LIVES OF MOTIVATED YOUNG ADULTS. COLLEGE EXPOSURE AND ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS ARE THE PRIMARY AVENUES BY WHICH WE REMOVE BARRIERS THAT CAN IMPEDE SUCCESS. WE LOOK TOWARDS A FUTURE THAT IS MORE HOPEFUL FOR SCHOLARS WHO DESERVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

Income
$155,882
Spending
$179,028
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
12

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: 30 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 90% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $154,322 spent. BY ESTABLISHING ENDOWMENTS AT INSTITUTES OF HIGHER LEARNING, KWAME CHARITABLE FOUNDATION PROVIDES AN ENDURING FUND FOR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR FIRST GENERATION, PELL GRANT ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOLS. THE STUDENTS COMPLETE THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND EACH SCHOOL ADHERES TO KCF'S GUIDELINES ON SELECTION PARAMETERS EACH SEMESTER. ANNUAL HBCU COLLEGE TOUR TRAVELS BY CHARTERED BUS TAKING UP TO 50 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO VISIT 4-5 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THROUGH VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE U.S. THE TOUR, WHICH OCCURS CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE ODURING A WEEK IN MARCH, IS AN AFFORDABLE ROUTE FOR STUDENTS TO BECOME EXPOSED TO SCHOOLS OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE LESSER KNOWN HBCU'S THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS. BY SHOULDERING SOME OF THE EXPENSES FOR THE TOUR, STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES NEED ONLY CONTRIBUTE A MODEST AMOUNT, COMPARED TO THE GREAT VALUE THE STUDENTS RECEIVE. OCCASIONAL SUPPORT IS GIVEN TO ORGANIZATIONS WITH EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT THAT SERVE TEENS OR YOUNG ADULTS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE APPLYING TO OR ENROLLED IN COLLEGE OR IN A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

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 February 2023.

    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.