Aja Foundation
Aja Foundation faces persistent operating deficits despite growing assets and no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 202054545 · Las Vegas, NV · NTEE: T20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $54.5M |
| Total Expenses | $1.3M |
| Program Spending | 70% |
| Net Assets | $14.2M |
| Transparency Score | 55/100 |
Is Aja Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Aja Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs. This meets the industry benchmark of 65% for efficient nonprofits.
About Aja Foundation
Aja Foundation (EIN: 202054545) is a nonprofit organization based in Las Vegas, NV, classified under NTEE code T20. The organization reported total revenue of $54.5M and total assets of $19.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Aja Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Aja Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 20 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -27.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $10K |
| Total Expenses | $1.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,339,937 |
| Total Assets | $18.8M |
| Total Liabilities | $4.6M |
| Net Assets | $14.2M |
| Operating Margin | -13624.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 24.5% |
| Months of Reserves | 167.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Aja Foundation reported a deficit of $1.3M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 167.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 24.5% (moderate leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Aja Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -27.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -98.6% | -8.4% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | -180.2% | -15.7% | +51.1% |
| 2020 | +13.6% | +10.4% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | -69.4% | +31.2% | +3.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2006 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Aja Foundation with a Mission Score of 55 out of 100 (Fair). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 20%
- programs: 70%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, Aja Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 20%, programs: 70%, fundraising: 10%. Approximately 70% goes to programs, indicating moderate mission focus.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $1.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 24.5%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests that Aja Foundation's executive leadership may be entirely volunteer-based or that compensation is categorized in a way not immediately apparent as 'officer compensation' on the 990, which could affect the clarity of administrative cost reporting.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Aja Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operating deficits, with expenses significantly exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., 2023 revenue $9,835 vs. expenses $1,349,772).
- Increasing liabilities, reaching $4,620,855 in 2023, without clear corresponding revenue growth.
- Significant discrepancy between 'latest revenue' ($54,532,828) and the most recent filing's revenue ($9,835), requiring clarification.
- Negative revenue reported in 2021 ($-833,297), which is unusual and warrants explanation.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Aja Foundation:
- Accumulation of substantial assets, reaching $19,599,151, indicating a strong financial base.
- No reported officer compensation, suggesting a potentially volunteer-driven leadership or efficient use of funds at the executive level.
- Long filing history (10 filings), indicating consistent reporting to the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aja Foundation
Is Aja Foundation a legitimate charity?
Aja Foundation (EIN: 202054545) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Nevada. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 55/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $54.5M. 4 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Aja Foundation spend its money?
Aja Foundation directs 70% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This meets the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Aja Foundation tax-deductible?
Aja Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 202054545). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Aja Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Aja Foundation directs 70% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This meets the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Aja Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 55/100 (Fair), Aja Foundation is near average for NTEE category T20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Aja Foundation located?
Aja Foundation is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and files with the IRS under EIN 202054545. It is classified under NTEE code T20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Aja Foundation have?
Aja Foundation has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $54.5M in total revenue.
Is Aja Foundation a good charity?
Aja Foundation presents a mixed financial picture. While it has accumulated significant assets and reports no officer compensation, its consistent operating deficits and growing liabilities raise concerns about long-term financial sustainability. A deeper understanding of its program spending and funding sources is needed to fully assess its effectiveness.
Why is there such a large discrepancy between latest revenue and 2023 filing revenue?
The latest revenue figure of $54,532,828 is significantly higher than the $9,835 reported in the 2023 filing. This could indicate a major one-time grant, a large investment gain, or a different reporting period for the 'latest revenue' figure compared to the fiscal year ending September 2023. Further investigation into the source and timing of this revenue is crucial.
What is the nature of the increasing liabilities?
Liabilities have steadily increased, reaching $4,620,855 in 2023. Understanding whether these are program-related payables, loans, or other obligations is important for assessing the organization's financial health and risk.
How does the organization cover its operating deficits?
With expenses consistently exceeding revenue in recent years (e.g., $1,349,772 expenses vs. $9,835 revenue in 2023), the organization must be drawing from its accumulated assets or receiving significant non-operating income to sustain operations. This is not a sustainable long-term model without a clear strategy for revenue generation.
What are the specific programs Aja Foundation funds?
The NTEE code T20 indicates 'Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations'. While this broadly defines its purpose, specific program details are not available from the provided financial summary. Understanding the impact of its grantmaking activities would be essential for a complete evaluation.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Aja Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Aja Foundation's revenue has declined by 97.8%, moving from $448K to $10K. Total assets increased by 158.2% over the same period, from $7.3M to $18.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 213.6%, from $430K to $1.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Aja Foundation reported a deficit of $1.3M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $4.6M in liabilities against $18.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 24.5%), resulting in net assets of $14.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $10K | $1.3M | $18.8M | $4.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $697K | $1.5M | $17.9M | $3.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $-833,297 | $1.1M | $18.0M | $2.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.0M | $1.3M | $11.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $915K | $1.2M | $12.2M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $3.0M | $924K | $11.8M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.0M | $677K | $9.7M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $3.0M | $548K | $9.3M | $5K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $145K | $514K | $6.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $448K | $430K | $7.3M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $10K, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $18.8M (revenue -98.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $697K, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $17.9M.
- 2021: Revenue of $-833,297, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $18.0M (revenue -180.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $11.9M (revenue +13.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $915K, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $12.2M (revenue -69.4% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $924K, and assets of $11.8M (revenue +190.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $677K, and assets of $9.7M (revenue -65.3% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $548K, and assets of $9.3M (revenue +1952.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $145K, expenses of $514K, and assets of $6.9M (revenue -67.7% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $448K, expenses of $430K, and assets of $7.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Aja Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Aja Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.