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The 1990 Institute

EIN 94-3112912 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR ASIAN AMERICANS AND A CONSTRUCTIVE U.S.-CHINA RELATIONSHIP THROUGH LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATION.

Income
$419,679
Spending
$352,444
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
2

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 21 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $98,913 spent. YOUTH SYMPOSIUM ROOTS AND WINGS: CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN YOUTH WITH THE POWER OF COMMUNITY IS A TRANSFORMATIVE GATHERING DESIGNED TO UPLIFT, CONNECT, AND EMPOWER ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS. THROUGH DYNAMIC PANEL DISCUSSIONS, INTERACTIVE BREAKOUT SESSIONS, AND CULTURAL SHOWCASES, PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN FRESH PERSPECTIVES, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY GROWTH. ?THIS IS A SPACE WHERE STUDENTS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN CONNECT, SHARE, AND LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. STUDENTS WILL MEET INSPIRING PROFESSIONALS FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS, GAINING REAL-WORLD GUIDANCE TO HELP SHAPE THEIR FUTURES WITH CONFIDENCE. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WILL GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES THEIR YOUTH FACEAND HOW TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH ADVOCACY AND OPEN CONVERSATIONS. EDUCATORS WILL GAIN PRACTICAL STRATEGIES AND CURRICULUM RESOURCES TO BRING ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS.
  2. $59,940 spent. TEACHERS WORKSHOPS:PROGRAMS AND WEBSITE (SITES.GOOGLE.COM/1990INSTITUTE.ORG/1990INSTITUTE4TEACHERS/HOME) TO EMPOWER TEACHERS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND EQUIP THEM WITH RESOURCES THEY CAN SHARE WITH THEIR STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM BUILDS CONTEXTUAL REFERENCE MATERIAL TO MAKE LEARNING FUN AND RESOURCES THAT CAN BE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY IN CLASSROOMS.
  3. $32,201 spent. NEWSLETTER MONTHLY ESSAYS WITH 12 ISSUES PRODUCED AND OVER 4,000 SUBSCRIBERS. THE NEWSLETTERS ARE AT WWW.1990INSTITUTE.COM/NEWSLETTERS
  4. $33,733 spent. EXPENSES FOR ALL OTHER PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, PROMOTE A CONSTRUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, AND CHAMPION THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF ASIAN AMERICANS INCLUDED REFERENCE LIBRARY, PODCAST, VIDEO PROGRAMS, COLLEGE ESSAY CONTEST AND NAAV. NEW ASIAN AMERICAN VOICES (NAAV) IS AN INSTAGRAM-BASED PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED ASIAN AMERICAN VISIBILITY AND REPRESENTATION IN THE MAINSTREAM BY HIGHLIGHTING ASIAN AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVES WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN ALL SECTORS OF U.S. SOCIETY.

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 1994.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The May Institute Inc (Randolph, MA), EIN 04-2197449. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.