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Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California

EIN 95-3854152 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AJSOCAL IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION THAT PROTECTS AND STRENGTHENS THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER (AAPI) COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE MOST DISADVANTAGED.

Income
$19.7 million
Spending
$15.9 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
15.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
111
Volunteers
209
Highest pay
$259,579, chief executive officer

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (3)
  1. $8.9 million spent. PROVIDED INTAKE, REFERRAL, COUNSELING, LEGAL SERVICES AND LITIGATION SERVICES TO POOR MONOLINGUAL AND LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT CALLERS IN CHINESE, VIETNAMESE, KOREAN AND KHMER SERVICES INCLUDE FAMILY LAW, IMMIGRATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FORECLOSURE PREVENTION, ELDER, CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION, AS WELL AS ESL/CIVICS ENGAGED IN IMPACT LITIGATION, POLICY ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND ORGANIZING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MULTIETHNIC, CROSS-RACIAL COLLABORATION ON LOW-WAGE WORKER, CONSUMER FRAUD AND EMPLOYMENT.
  2. $2.9 million spent. ADVOCATED FOR POLICIES TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND THE WELFARE/HEALTH SAFETY NET FOR APA IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF WELFARE/HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR THESE GROUPS, AND PROVIDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO APA COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY, PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY ON VOTING RIGHTS FOR APA VOTERS PROMOTED APA AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS THROUGH POLICY ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND COALITION BUILDING.
  3. $640,744 spent. PROVIDED SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE INCREASED INCIDENCES OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE AND RACISM INCLUDING VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT FOR EMOTIONAL AND COLLATERAL FALLOUT FROM HATE INCIDENTS, TRACKING FOR REPORTED INCIDENTS OF HATE INCIDENTS, AND TRAININGS FOR BYSTANDER INTERVENTION.

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

  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 2024.

    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 March 1984.

    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.