People of Color Against AIDS Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The mission of POCAAN is to work with communities of color and other minority communities to advocate and ensure access to HIV/AIDS education, prevention programs support and health care resources for people of color.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $4.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 89%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $132,108, executive director
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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 223% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% 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
Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
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
8 of 8Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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 (4)
- $805,120 spent. SMMO (SAGE) Senior Mobile Medical Outreach provides care for Seniors from Seattle down to Carnation, Washington who cannot otherwise get to medical services, are under insured, or otherwise not able to get to a hospital or medical clinic. In 2024 SMMO doubled in the number of clients being served with 486 clients and added 2 new sites to bring the number to 20 by the end of 2024.
- $330,459 spent. CURB Communities Uniting Rainier Valley and Beyond (CURB) provides systems navigation and trauma intervention activities for individuals harmed by the criminal legal system in Seattle who are between the ages of 18 to 24-years-old. CURB is a program for young adults who want to make positive changes in their current lifestyle towards a brighter future. POCAAN believes that each person has the power to commit to working hard and to succeed in making important life changes for a brighter future. CURB supports this journey by providing individual case management with supportive counseling and referrals for a variety of social services. In 2024 CURB increased their number to 35 new families in supportive services that were helped.
- $227,467 spent. YFHPI/BSK POCAANs Best Starts for Kids Homelessness Prevention Program, a beacon of hope for 75 families in need. In a world plagued by housing instability, this initiative has made an indelible impact by keeping In 2024 BSK again helped 75 new families with support services.
- $2.1 million spent. All 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
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 November 6, 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 2024.
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 June 1993.
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 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.