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Armenian Center for National and International Studies

EIN 95-4425150 · Sherman Oaks, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE AND RESEARCH BASE FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND POLICYMAKERS ON A COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC ISSUES MAINLY ON ACHIEVING PEACE, STABILITY AND COOPERATION IN THE REGION AND BUILDING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN ARMENIA. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ROBUST CONFERENCE AND SEMINAR SERIES AND CURRICULUM, THE PUBLICATION OF BOOKS AND ARTICLES, AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO UNIVERSITIES AND THE PUBLIC.

Income
$269,284
Spending
$67,694
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
65.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0

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 87% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 65.1 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 75% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 141% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $59,174 spent. 4a ACNIS ORGANIZES AND PARTICIPATES IN CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ON DEMOCRACY AND PUBLIC POLICY EDUCATION AND THEMES OF BROAD PUBLIC INTEREST, WITH THE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPING THE RULE OF LAW, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND DEMOCRATIZATION OF DOMESTIC INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND STABILITY IN THE CAUCASUS REGION. IN 2024, SUBJECT MATTERS OF BROAD EDUCATIONAL INTEREST INCLUDED ACNIS' PROFESSIONALS' PRESENCE AT A CONTINUING SERIES OF FORUMS ON THE PEACEFUL AND LAWFUL RESOLUTION OF THE REGIONAL CONFLICTS, ARMENIA'S IMPROVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES IN THE EVOLUTION OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, AND OPPORTUNITIES CONNECTED TO CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENTS, AND SAFEGUARDING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY. ACNIS CONVENED OR PARTICIPATED IN FOUR REMOTE CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, AND SEMINARS, HELD PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS, ACADEMICS, AND POLICYMAKERS. EXPENSES $11,835.
  2. 4b ACNIS PREPARES AND PUBLISHES A WEEKLY REVIEW OF CURRENT AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS,BOOK REVIEWS, TREATMENTS OF MAJOR SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS, ARTICLES, AND STUDY GUIDES ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND MULTI-TRACK DIPLOMACY IN PEACE PROCESSES AND THE RULE OF LAW. THE ARMENIAN, ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN LANGUAGE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF NEWS, OPINION AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS ARE PRESENTED IN PRINT, VIA PODCAST AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, OFFERING A WIDE SPECTRUM OF FREELY EXPRESSED POLICY ANALYSES ON ARMENIA AND THE DIASPORA AND GEOPOLITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON REGIONAL ISSUES. HIGHLIGHTED ARE HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE REGION AND THE WORLD, THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION IN DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITIES IN THE EMERGING INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION APPROACHES. MORE THAN FIFTY ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS WERE PUBLISHED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE AND WERE ISSUED IN SEVERAL LANGUAGES. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM SERVICE, ACNIS HAS CONTINUED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIGITAL DATABASE AND LIBRARY OF SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE MATERIALS FOR USE BY SCHOLARS, STUDENTS AND EXPERTS. EXPENSES $38,462.
  3. 4c ACNIS IN 2024 CONTINUED INTO A FOURTEENTH YEAR OF A YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM WHICH WAS COMPRISED OF MULTI-PART INSTRUCTIONAL SESSIONS OFFERED BY ACNIS STAFF TO TWO STUDENTS. THE AREAS OF INSTRUCTION INCLUDED ARMENIA AND REGIONAL-BASED STUDIES RELATED TO ANALYSES AND ADVANTAGES OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES AND THE CHALLENGES TO THEM IN POST-SOVIET ENVIRONMENTS, JUDICIAL AND DEMOCRATIC, CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL BASES OF THE RECOGNITION ISSUE, AND THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION. THE GOAL OF THE YOUTH EDUCATIONAL AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS IS TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO INFORMATION AND RESOURCES RELATED TO FACTORS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEACE AND SECURITY, FROM THE INDIVIDUAL TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. ACNIS ALSO CONTINUED ITS WORKING COOPERATION WITH LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES CENTERS WHICH ADDRESS AND MEET THE NEEDS OF STREET CHILDREN AND DISADVANTAGED ELDERLY, PROVIDING AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING, NUTRITION AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. EXPENSES $4,438.
  4. 4d ACNIS ORGANIZES AND PARTICIPATES IN PRESENTATIONS WORKING MEETINGS AND CONSULTATIONS ON CURRENT DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES WITH LEADERS, REPRESENTATIVES, ACADEMICS, AND STUDENTS FROM DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS--INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES, STATE AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES, THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE DIPLOMATIC STAFF OF THE UNITED STATES, NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN, WESTERN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN EMBASSIES. EXPENSES $4,438.

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 August 1993.

    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.

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

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Center for Strategic and International Studies Inc (Washington, DC), EIN 52-1501082. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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