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Passes our checks

Pacific and Asian Affairs Council

EIN 99-0073501 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To promote a greater awareness and understanding of foreign affairs issues with special attention to Hawaiis role in the Asia-Pacific region.

Income
$590,695
Spending
$739,733
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
9.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
16
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$72,500, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • 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 June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $204,295 spent. Freeman travel and after-school programs: (1) Freeman Foundation travel program provides funds for Hawaii high school students to travel to Asia to promote international education in Hawaii and (2) after-school class and club initiative. 16 students traveled on the Freeman Summer Study Tour to Vietnam in June 2025. In the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, 51 students participated in the after-school global studies classes at 2 public high schools in Hawaii. The grants club strengthening initiatives impacted 1,175 students and 111 teachers (includes duplicates).
  2. $339,476 spent. Other high school programs: PAAC coordinated and implemented after-school global studies classes, LEAD Summit and Workshop for PAAC Club Officer development, an interschool conference, mini conferences, Club Visits, and an academic competition. All activities provided students with a safe environment to learn about critical global issues and prepare them for an increasingly interconnected world. For the current fiscal year, 74 students participated in after-school global studies classes at 4 schools, 81 participated in the LEAD Summit and Workshop, 124 participated in the interschool conference, 200 participated in mini conference, 211 participated in Club Visits, and 138 participated in WorldQuest.
  3. $43,153 spent. Annual Meeting - annual global affairs dinner for furtherance of PAACs mission and funds for operations

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 July 1960.

    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.