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Royal Ethiopian Trust Inc

EIN 93-4041676 · Centerbrook, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 53 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ROYAL ETHIOPIAN TRUST (RET) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE LEGACY OF HIS IMPERIAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ERMIAS SAHLE-SELASSIE AND FOSTERING THE WELL-BEING OF THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE. RETS MISSION IS TO SAFEGUARD, RAISE AWARENESS OF, AND FORTIFY ETHIOPIAN CULTURE AND UNITY. THIS MISSION IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH FOUR CORE PROGRAMMATIC PILLARS: 1. EMPOWERING ETHIOPIAS FUTURE SUPPORTING THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL GROWTH OF ETHIOPIAN YOUTH THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, MENTORSHIP, AND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. 2. FOSTERING ETHIOPIAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ENCOURAGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MICROFINANCE, TRAINING, AND LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORT. 3. PRESERVING ETHIOPIAS IMPERIAL HERITAGE PROMOTING NATIONAL PRIDE AND HISTORICAL AWARENESS BY RECOVERING, PRESERVING, AND EXHIBITING SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS. 4. SUPPORTING THE ETHIOPIAN CROWN UPHOLDING THE ETHIOPIAN MONARCHY AS A UNIFYING SYMBOL OF ETHIOPIAS IDENTITY AND CULTURAL INTEGRITY.

Income
$47,912
Spending
$139,428
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$24,000, chairman of

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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 191% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 53 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $87,346 spent. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2025 DURING 2025, RET CONTINUED TO FULFILL ITS CHARITABLE MISSION THROUGH GRANT MAKING, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION PROJECTS IN ETHIOPIA, JAMAICA, AND THE UNITED STATES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE ETHIOPIAN HISTORY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, CULTURAL INITIATIVES, AND COLLABORATION WITH NON-PROFIT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. EDUCATION EDUCATION REMAINED THE TRUST'S LARGEST CHARITABLE FOCUS DURING 2025. RET PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TOWARD THE CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE EJERSA GORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ETHIOPIA. THE FUNDNG SUPPORTED EXPANSION OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS ONE OF RET'S FLAGSHIP EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES AND REFLECTS THE ORGANIZATION'S LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS. RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT RET PROVIDED AN UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT TO ADHENO, AN ETHIOPIAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. GRANT FUNDS SUPPORTED PROGRAMS ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, EMERGENCY RESPONSE INITIATIVES, AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE RET PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SERVING VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED CHARITABLE INITIATIVES IN ETHIOPIA. FUNDING SUPPORTED THE ORGANIZATION'S ONGOING CHARITABLE PROGRAMS BENEFITTING DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS. DISATER RELIEF FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING HURRICANES IMPACTING JAMAICA DURING 2025, RET PROVIDED HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS. CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CONSISTENT WITH ITS MISSION OF PRESERVING ETHIOPIAN CULTURE, RET SUPPORTED SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES DURING 2025. RET PROVIDED FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE BRILLE EXHIBITION, A CULTURAL EXHIBITION DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WHILE PROMOTING APPRECIATION OF ETHIOPIAN HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ARTISTIC HERITAGE. RET ALSO PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY ALEMAYEHU, AN EDUCATIONAL FILM EXPLORING THE LIFE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PRICE ALEMAYEHU OF ETHIOPIA. THE PROJECT ADVANCES RET'S MISSION BY PRESERVING ETHIOPIAN HISTORY AND INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ETHIOPIA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RET AWARDED GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. RET ALSO SUPPORTED CHARITABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THE ROYAL ETHIOPIAN TRUST SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCED ITS CHARITABLE MISSION THROUGHOUT 2025 THROUGH GRANT MAKING, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION INITIATIVES. ALL CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES WERE UNDERTAKEN IN FURTHERANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX-EXEMPT PUROPSE UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE TRUST REMAINS COMMITTED TO RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF CHARITABLE RESOURCE, WHILE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT PRESERVE ETHIOPIA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE, IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2025 DURING 2025, RET CONTINUED TO FULFILL ITS CHARITABLE MISSION THROUGH GRANT MAKING, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION PROJECTS IN ETHIOPIA, JAMAICA, AND THE UNITED STATES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE ETHIOPIAN HISTORY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, CULTURAL INITIATIVES, AND COLLABORATION WITH NON-PROFIT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. EDUCATION EDUCATION REMAINED THE TRUST'S LARGEST CHARITABLE FOCUS DURING 2025. RET PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TOWARD THE CONTINUED CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE EJERSA GORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ETHIOPIA. THE FUNDNG SUPPORTED EXPANSION OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AND IMPROVED ACCESS TO PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS ONE OF RET'S FLAGSHIP EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES AND REFLECTS THE ORGANIZATION'S LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS. RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT RET PROVIDED AN UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT TO ADHENO, AN ETHIOPIAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. GRANT FUNDS SUPPORTED PROGRAMS ADDRESSING FOOD SECURITY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, EMERGENCY RESPONSE INITIATIVES, AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE RET PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SERVING VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED CHARITABLE INITIATIVES IN ETHIOPIA. FUNDING SUPPORTED THE ORGANIZATION'S ONGOING CHARITABLE PROGRAMS BENEFITTING DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS. DISATER RELIEF FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING HURRICANES IMPACTING JAMAICA DURING 2025, RET PROVIDED HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS. CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CONSISTENT WITH ITS MISSION OF PRESERVING ETHIOPIAN CULTURE, RET SUPPORTED SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES DURING 2025. RET PROVIDED FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE BRILLE EXHIBITION, A CULTURAL EXHIBITION DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WHILE PROMOTING APPRECIATION OF ETHIOPIAN HISTORY, CULTURE, AND ARTISTIC HERITAGE. RET ALSO PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY ALEMAYEHU, AN EDUCATIONAL FILM EXPLORING THE LIFE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PRICE ALEMAYEHU OF ETHIOPIA. THE PROJECT ADVANCES RET'S MISSION BY PRESERVING ETHIOPIAN HISTORY AND INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ETHIOPIA'S CULTURAL HERITAGE. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
  2. $10,000 spent. HELP WITH RELIEF FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE HURRICANE IN JAIMACA

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 October 13, 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 July 2024.

    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 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.