Wai-Anae Community Re-Development Corporation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, FOCUSED TOWARD YOUTH, THROUGH THE OPERATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF COMMUNITY-BASED INTER-WOVEN ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING AN ORGANIC FARM, COLLEGE DEGREE PROGRAMS, INTERNSHIPS, AND IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM BASED CLASSES.
- Income
- $9.4 million
- Spending
- $3.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -10.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 55
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $135,014, co-founder/executive & program 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $2.7 million spent. OUR MISSION IS TO GROW EMPOWERED YOUTH LEADERSHIP FOR A JUST, HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEM. TO THAT END, WE PROVIDE YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING (YLT) PROGRAMS IN WHICH YOUTH WORK IN THE ORGANIC FARM ENTERPRISE AND IN RETURN FOR THAT SWEAT EQUITY THEY ARE PROVIDED FULL TUITION TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHILE EARNING EDUCATIONAL STIPENDS. IN 2024, MA'O ORGANIC FARMS CONTINUED TO ADVANCE ITS MISSION OF GROWING EMPOWERED YOUTH LEADERS AND BUILDING A JUST, HEALTHY, AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEM. THROUGH ITS 'AUWAI YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS, MA'O ENGAGED 195 YOUTH IN PAID INTERNSHIPS THAT COMBINED HANDS-ON ORGANIC FARMING WITH COLLEGE TUITION SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. TOGETHER, INTERNS AND STAFF CULTIVATED 36 ACRES OF 'AINA, PRODUCING MORE THAN 340,000 POUNDS OF CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCE AND GENERATING OVER $1.3 MILLION IN FARM SALES-MARKING STEADY PROGRESS TOWARD THE ORGANIZATION'S 10-YEAR GOAL OF EXPANDING PRODUCTION AND INCREASING LOCAL FOOD SECURITY.
- $27,313 spent. IN ALIGNMENT WITH ITS LONG-TERM VISION FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, 2024 MARKED MA'O'S EXPANSION INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION PURCHASED A ONE-ACRE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WITH TWO HOUSING UNITS TO PILOT A YOUTH AND STAFF HOUSING INITIATIVE COUPLED WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY AND HOMEOWNERSHIP TRAINING. IN ADDITION, THE HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG FOUNDATION'S DONATION OF 249 ACRES IN MAKAHA WILL ALLOW MA'O TO EXTEND ITS EDUCATIONAL, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, AND HOUSING PROGRAMS-DEEPENING ITS KULEANA TO STEWARD 'AINA AND NURTURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS.
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
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.