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Easter Island Foundation

EIN 95-3220730 · Santa Maria, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO WORK FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF EASTER ISLAND, ITS HISTORY, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. TO FACILITATE RAPA NUI YOUTH IN GAINING PROFESSIONAL CAREERS AND EXPERTISE THROUGH OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SO THAT THE RAPA NUI CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD A STRONG, INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY THAT RESPECTS THEIR UNIQUE HERITAGE. TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EASTER ISLANDS COMPELLING HERITAGE AND PRICELESS MONUMENTAL TREASURES. TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH AND DIALOGUE ABOUT EASTER ISLAND AND POLYNESIA AMONG SCIENTISTS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES THROUGH THE PUBLICATION OF RAPA NUI JOURNAL (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PRESS) AND THROUGH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES.

Income
$175,906
Spending
$65,135
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
97.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0

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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 97.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    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. $64,611 spent. PROMOTE THE PRESERVATION OF RAPA NUI HERITAGE AND CULTURE THROUGH EDUCATION. THE FOUNDATION WAS CREATED IN 1989 TO GIVE BACK TO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS INSPIRED THE WORLD WITH ITS RICH HISTORY, VIBRANT CULTURE AND MONUMENTAL TREASURERS. WE PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS OF RAPA NUI ANCESTRY, PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS ON THE ISLAND INCLUDING TOKI RAPA NUI SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND THE ARTS, TEREVAKA ARCHAEOLOGICAL OUTREACH PROGRAM AND THE WILLIAM MULLOY LIBRARY. WE CONTINUE TO PUBLISH THE RAPA NUI JOURNAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I PRESS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.