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Sasakawa Africa Association

EIN 98-1316013 · Japan

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO SUPPORT AFRICA TO FULFIL ITS ASPIRATIONS IN BUILDING RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS. THE ASSOCIATION ENGAGES IN CATALYZING KNOWLEDGE SHARING WITH AFRICAN FARMERS AND ENABLING FOOD, NUTRITION, AND INCOME SECURITY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$15.9 million
Spending
$11.5 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
155
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$172,476, director

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 10 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $5.4 million spent. AFRICA SMALL-SCALE FARMER SUPPORT PROJECT BY STRENGTHENING THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SYSTEM IN ETHIOPIA, MALI, NIGERIA, AND UGANDA BY NIPPON FOUNDATION: SECURING FOOD, NUTRITION AND INCOME IN THE COMMUNITY BY PROMOTING KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION SHARING WITH SMALLHOLDERS, FOCUSING ON THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS, TO REALIZE A ROBUST AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA TO ENABLE 1. RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT-REGENERATING AGRICULTURE THAT RESPONDS TO SOIL DEGRADATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE 2. NUTRITION-FRIENDLY AGRICULTURE FOR THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS 3. MARKET-ORIENTED AGRICULTURE THAT ENABLES AGRICULTURE AS A BUSINESS
  2. $2.2 million spent. KANO AGRO-PASTORAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (KSADP) IN NIGERIA KANO: 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW - KSADP AIMS TO INCREASE THE INCOME AND IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOODS OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN KANO STATE BY SUPPORTING THE CULTIVATION OF RICE, MAIZE, SORGHUM, MILLET, ONIONS, TOMATOES, AND CABBAGE. 2. PROJECT OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS - INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND INCOME FOR TARGET FARMERS, AND ENHANCED ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE EXTENSION SERVICES; INCREASED PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN SMALLHOLDER FARMERS.; ENHANCED BUSINESS SKILLS AND IMPROVED MARKET LINKAGES THROUGH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS; ACHIEVEMENT OF ANNUAL PRODUCTION TARGETS; BENEFIT UP TO 450,000 FARMERS OVER FIVE YEARS; 44 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS ACROSS KANO STATE 3. TARGET BENEFICIARIES - SMALLHOLDER FARMERS CULTIVATING 0.5 TO 1 HECTARE DURING BOTH RAINY AND DRY SEASONS. EMERGING COMMERCIAL FARMERS OWNING MORE THAN 5 HECTARES OF LAND AND WILLING TO LEASE LAND TO SMALLHOLDER FARMERS FOR LARGER-SCALE PRODUCTION. 4. SAA'S INPUTS - DEMONSTRATION AND TRAINING ON IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND SEED TECHNOLOGIES FOR 121,969 FARMERS; PILOT PROJECT IN THE FIRST YEAR, TARGETING 9,350 SMALL-SCALE COMMERCIAL FARMERS, WITH 30% COST-SHARING ON INPUTS FOR 1 HECTARE PER FARMER; ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNITY-BASED EXTENSION SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF EXTENSION SERVICES AND ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY; NETWORKING OF PRIMARY FARMER GROUPS TO PROMOTE AGGREGATION AND COLLECTIVE MARKETING OF PRODUCE; ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR NETWORKED FARMER GROUPS TO ENTER INTO FORWARD CONTRACTS WITH MAJOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE BUYERS; TRAINING ON POST-HARVEST HANDLING AND PROCESSING; PROVISION OF HIGH-QUALITY SEEDS (COST-SHARING); STRENTHENING LINKAGES BETWEEN FARMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH A STRATEGIC INNOVATION PLATFORM; TRAINING ON GROUP DYNAMICS, LEADERSHIP, AND MANAGEMENT.
  3. $775,530 spent. ISSD-Sahel in Mali: Comprehensive Seed Sector Development Project in the Sahel Region (Burkina Faso) - This is the Burkina Faso component of the "Comprehensive Seed Sector Development Project in the Sahel Region" currently being implemented in Mali and Niger. Donor - Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burkina Faso Consortium Members - International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) Lead Agency, Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Netherlands Target Regions - Boucle du Mouhoun, Hauts-Bassins, East, Center-East, North, Center-West, Center-South Project Duration - July 2023 to June 2028 (5 years). July 2023 to February 2024 in the initial phase. Project Budget - 9,853,500 Euros (5 years). SAA's budget is 1,698,300 Euros (5 years). Project Goals - Ensure seed producers have access to pre-basic and basic seeds; Strengthen the national supply of high-quality seeds through local commercial seed companies; Increase the production surplus of smallholder farmers by promoting the use of high-quality seeds with good agricultural practices; Ensure seed services and regulations benefit seed entrepreneurs of all sizes; Integrate the Sahel region's seed sector into regional and global seed sectors.
  4. $780,108 spent. Other Program Service Activities Include: Pro-Environment Market-Oriented Agriculture Promotion Project in Ethiopia II in Ethiopia by the ministry of foreign affairs - Japan Livelihood Improvement and Nutrition Enhancement Project through Strengthening Agricultural Cooperatives (LINSAC) in Mali by the ministry of foreign affairs - Japan Revitalization of Rice Production and Processing Cooperatives for a Decarbonized Rice Production and Processing Promotion Project in Nigeria by the ministry of foreign affairs - Japan Project for Promotion of Market-Oriented Agriculture through Strengthening Agricultural Cooperatives in North-Eastern Region of the Republic of Uganda by the ministry of foreign affairs - Japan
  5. (Expenses $ 780,108 including grants of $) Other Program Service Activities Include: Pro-Environment Market-Oriented Agriculture Promotion Project in Ethiopia II in Ethiopia by the ministry of foreign affairs - Japan Livelihood Improvement and Nutrition Enhancement Project through Strengthening Agricultural Cooperatives (LINSAC) in Mali by the ministry of foreign affairs - Japan Revitalization of Rice Production and Processing Cooperatives for a Decarbonized Rice Production and Processing Promotion Project in Nigeria by the ministry of foreign affairs - Japan Project for Promotion of Market-Oriented Agriculture through Strengthening Agricultural Cooperatives in North-Eastern Region of the Republic of Uganda by the ministry of foreign affairs - Japan

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 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? Caution.

    The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(3) charitable organization as not deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 2024.

    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 November 2016.

    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.

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