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Okinawa Association of America

EIN 95-4490174 · Gardena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 10% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE GROUP IDENTITY, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPRECIATION AND MAINTAIN THE TRADITION OF BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR IN OKINAWA STYLE WITH TRADITIONAL AND SYMBOLIC FOOD AND CEREMONY AND ENTERTAINMENT, USUALLY HAVE ANNUAL BAZAAR FEATURING OKINAWAN MUSIC, DANCE, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND TRADITIONAL FOODS.

Income
$104,909
Spending
$137,550
Spent on programs
10%
Reserves
25.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
2

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 25.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    10% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, 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

    13 of 13 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 November 30, 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. $6,939 spent. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OF OKINAWAN DESCENT BASED UPON MERIT OF SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT, EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. GRANTS ALSO AWARDED TO/FOR OTHER MERITORIOUS AND WORTHY CAUSES.
  2. MAINTAIN THE TRADITION OF BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR IN OKINAWA STYLE WITH TRADITIONAL AND SYMBOLIC FOOD AND CEREMONY AND ENTERTAINMENT, USUALLY HAVE ANNUAL BAZAAR FEATURING OKINAWAN MUSIC, DANCE, ARTS AND CRAFTS AND TRADITIONAL FOODS.
  3. $7,366 spent. MAINTAIN THE TRADITIONS OF PEOPLE OF OKINAWA THRU MEETINGS AND SMALL EVENTS BY PRINTING VARIOUS NEWLETTERS AND PUBLICATIONS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE VARIOUS FOOD, CLOTHING PREPARATION, MUSIC CURRENT EVENTS OF THE PEOPLE OF OKINAWA.
  4. MAINTAIN THE TRADITIONS OF PEOPLE OF OKINAWA THRU MEETINGS AND SMALL EVENTS BY PRINTING VARIOUS NEWLETTERS AND PUBLICATIONS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE VARIOUS FOOD, CLOTHING PREPARATION, MUSIC CURRENT EVENTS OF THE PEOPLE OF OKINAWA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on April 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2012.

    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 November 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 October 2014.

    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.