Rafiki Foundation Incorporated

Tax-deductible

Eustis, FL501(c)(3)Since 1987InternationalEIN 74-2477089

To help africans know god and to help them raise their standard of living with excellence and integrity. Rafiki is a christian, interdenominational mission organization incorporated in the united states. The foundation operates one rafiki training village in each of ten african countries. Rafiki's mission:training africans to transform africa for christ. Rafiki's vision: equipping a mulititude of africans to bring educational, biblical, and economic transformation to their continent. Rafiki's strategy: rafiki has established one model rafiki training village in each of the ten african countries where orphans are cared for and educated with christian, classical curriculum, leading to a vocation or college. In addition, each village has a prek-12 christian classical school for the orphans and disadvantaged children from the community. Plus seven of the ten rafiki villages contain a christian teacher's college providing tution free teacher training. Lastely, rafiki partners with 23 africa

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 200 volunteers and 66 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
Is it a real charity?
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Are gifts tax-deductible?
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Is it filing on time?
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 years looks good.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Is it financially stable?
2 of 5
years in the black
Concern: 3 of the last 5 filings show a deficit.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
How much reaches the programs?
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more looks good.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
What are leaders paid?
$132K
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Looks good: leaders' pay is 1% of spending; 15% or less looks good.
Pt VII · Sec A
Do they have reserves?
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more looks good.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Who is supporting them already?
3
named funders · $26K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more looks good.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Do they carry debt?
$515K
liabilities
Looks good: debts are 3% of assets; 50% or less looks good.
Pt X · Ln 26
Who oversees it?
8
independent of 10 voting board members
Looks good: 8 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodWorth a lookConcernTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$10.2M
-10% vs prior year
Spent
$11.8M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$19.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$10.2M
FY2024▼ -10%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$9.1M
FY2021$10.6M
FY2022$9.5M
FY2023$11.3M
FY2024$10.2M
Expenses
$11.8M
FY2024+0.4%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$8.7M
FY2021$9.8M
FY2022$11.3M
FY2023$11.7M
FY2024$11.8M
Net assets
$19.6M
FY2024▼ -8%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$22.6M
FY2021$23.4M
FY2022$21.6M
FY2023$21.2M
FY2024$19.6M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Status and standing

Is it real, and can you give to it?

Tax-deductible?
Yes
Per the IRS master file.
Can I give now?
No revocation on IRS record
Not on the IRS revocation list.
Filing up to date?
Filed FY2024 (typical filing lag)
Legal name (IRS)Hdr · item CRafiki Foundation Incorporated
EINHdr · item D74-2477089
Exempt statusHdr · item I501(c)(3) · active
Ruling yearIRS BMFMar 1988
Year of formationHdr · item L1987
Latest filingForm 990FY2024 · Form 990
Principal addressHdr · item CEustis, FL
NTEE classificationIRS BMFInternational (Q300)
WebsiteHdr · item Jwww.rafikifoundation.org

Where the money goes

What each dollar paid for.

Statement of Functional Expenses

Part IX · allocated across program, management, and fundraising
Allocation · columns B–D
Program services $0.91 Management & general $0.05 Fundraising $0.03
Program services91%$10.7M
Management & general5%$644K
Fundraising3%$390K
Total functional expensesLn 25$11.8M

Financial health

Is it on solid ground?

Program efficiency
91%
of spending reaches programs-0.5% vs prior filing year
Operating runway
4.5mo
months of highly liquid reserves at operating expense rate▼ -12% vs prior filing year
Surplus margin
-16%
revenue over expenses, this year▼ -355% vs prior filing year

Summary of the Filing

Part I · fiscal year 2024 · Form 990
Total assets
$20.1M
FY2024▼ -8%
Total assets by fiscal year
FY2020$22.6M
FY2021$23.5M
FY2022$22.3M
FY2023$21.8M
FY2024$20.1M
Total liabilities
$515K
FY2024▼ -15%
Total liabilities by fiscal year
FY2020$42K
FY2021$50K
FY2022$636K
FY2023$609K
FY2024$515K
Revenue less expensesPt I · Ln 19−$1.6M
Total assetsPt X · Ln 16$20.1M
Program-expense ratioPt IX · col B91%
Voting members of governing bodyPt I · Ln 310
Independent voting membersPt I · Ln 48

Balance Sheet

Part X · end of year
CashLn 1$4.3M
Total assetsLn 16$20.1M
Total liabilitiesLn 26$515K
Total net assetsLn 32$19.6M
Months of cash on handcomputed4.4

Statement of Revenue

Part VIII
Contributions & grants$10.0M · 98%
Program service revenue$75K · 1%
Investment income$93K · 1%
Contributions & grants98%$10.0M
Program service revenue1%$75K
Investment income1%$93K
Total revenueLn 12$10.2M

Financial Metrics

Form 990 · FY2024 · each ratio shown with the dollars behind it
Liquidity & Payout
Operating runway
Highly liquid reserves $4.5M · Operating expenses/yr $11.8M
4.5 months
Where the money goes
Program services
Program services $10.7M · Total expenses $11.8M
91%
Management & General
Management & general $644K · Total expenses $11.8M
5%
Fundraising
Fundraising $390K · Total expenses $11.8M
3%
Cost to raise $1
Fundraising expense (3-yr avg) $317K · Solicited contributions (3-yr avg) $10.2M
$0.03 to raise $1 (3-yr avg)
Where the money comes from
Contribution dependence
Contributions & grants $10.0M · Total revenue $10.2M
98%
Government reliance
Government grants — · Total revenue $10.2M
—
Earned-income share
Program service revenue $75K · Total revenue $10.2M
0.7%
Investment reliance
Investment income $93K · Total revenue $10.2M
+0.9%
Program self-sufficiency
Program service revenue $75K · Total expenses $11.8M
0.6%
Growth & trend
Revenue growth (YoY)
This year $10.2M · Prior year $11.3M
-10%
Revenue CAGR
FY2020 $9.1M · FY2024 $10.2M
+3%
Net-asset trend (YoY)
End of year $19.6M · Beginning of year —
Beginning net assets not meaningfully positive — showing dollar change
Balance sheet
Surplus Margin
Revenue $10.2M · Expenses $11.8M
-16%
Liabilities-to-Assets
Total liabilities — · Total assets $20.1M
—
Net-asset ratio
Net assets $19.6M · Total assets $20.1M
97%
Marketable Investment Share
Publicly traded securities (Pt X, ln 11) $108K · Other securities (Pt X, ln 12) — · Total assets (Pt X, ln 16) $20.1M
0.5%
People & payroll
Highest Reported Total Compensation
Individual Karen Elliott · Reported title EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · Highest reported compensation $115K · Total expenses $11.8M
1.0%
Personnel share
Salaries, benefits & payroll (Pt IX 5-10) $2.6M · Total expenses $11.8M
22%
Peer comparison

Same NTEE category, revenue band, and state where available. Descriptive — not a grade.

MetricThis orgPeer medianPercentile
Program ratio 91%——
Overhead ratio 5%——
Fundraising cost ratio 4%——
Revenue growth -10%——
Investment management fee ratio <0.01%——
Legal fee ratio 0.04%——
Accounting fee ratio 0.3%——

Straight from the Form 990 — descriptive, not an evaluation. A ratio is hidden when its base is zero or too small to be meaningful; the dollars are always shown.

Leadership and pay

Who runs it, and what are they paid?

Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$115,236Pt VII · Sec A
$16,640Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Karen Elliott’s $115K as Executive Director is at the 7th percentile of top reported officer pay among 345 $10–100M international nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Karen Elliott$115,236$125,236$104,736$113,889$124,736
Rosemary Jensen———$41,791$40,000
Dr Rosemary Jensen$16,640$16,640$16,640——

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Rafiki Foundation Incorporated executive salaries →

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Governance & Policies

Part VI
  • 10Voting board membersPt VI · Ln 1a
  • 8Independent board membersPt VI · Ln 1b
  • Conflict-of-interest policyPt VI · Ln 12aYes
  • Whistleblower policyPt VI · Ln 13Yes
  • Document retention policyPt VI · Ln 14Yes
  • Top official’s pay independently reviewedPt VI · Ln 15aYes
  • Family or business ties among leadersPt VI · Ln 2No

Mission and programs

What it does.

Trains Africans with Christian education and skills to improve their lives and communities.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until Rafiki Foundation Incorporated claims this page.

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Mission & Programs · Part III

Where the work happens

1 program service account for $10.7M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

See schedule orafiki has been serving in africa over 30 years and is helping africans to know god and raise their standard of living through bible study and education with excellence and integrity. This work is overseen by the staff at the rafiki home office in eustis, florida and the 37 missionaries out in the field in africa.

$10.7Mprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$26K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 2 grants · $37K · 2023–2024

Filing history

Every return on file.

YearRevenueExpensesChangeFiling
FY2024 Latest Viewing $10.2M$11.8M-10% 990 PDF
FY2023 $11.3M$11.7M+20% 990 PDF
FY2022 $9.5M$11.3M-11% 990 PDF
FY2021 $10.6M$9.8M+16% 990 PDF
FY2020 $9.1M$8.7M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash

Full filing: Form 990 for FY2024

Every line we hold from the return, cited to its Part and line.
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $11,784,008 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $20,931$20,931
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $107,371 · Management $22,388 · Fundraising $23,476$153,235
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,409,917 · Management $137,300 · Fundraising $143,972$1,691,189
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $29,163 · Management $3,972 · Fundraising $4,165$37,300
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $505,945 · Management $33,133 · Fundraising $34,743$573,821
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $116,099 · Management $12,408 · Fundraising $13,011$141,518
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $3,364 · Management $701 · Fundraising $735$4,800
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $23,187 · Management $9,939 · Fundraising $4,160$37,286
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $74$74
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $13,711 · Management $2,862 · Fundraising $2,995$19,568
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $164,587 · Management $106,641 · Fundraising $13,673$284,901
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $71,755 · Management $40,494 · Fundraising $6,458$118,707
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $95,226 · Management $19,856 · Fundraising $20,820$135,902
IX-17 TravelPrograms $90,392 · Management $6,763 · Fundraising $3,474$100,629
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsFundraising $49,480$49,480
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,412,677 · Management $186,407 · Fundraising $536$1,599,620
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $59,427 · Management $41,599 · Fundraising $17,828$118,854
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $6,358,410 · Management $706 · Fundraising $740$6,359,856
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $267,800 · Management $18,545 · Fundraising $49,992$336,337
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $10,749,962 · Management $643,788 · Fundraising $390,258$11,784,008

Not shown yet: ratings, outcomes, and peer benchmarks. A Form 990 doesn’t report them.

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Sources

Every figure above is drawn from these filings
Form 990 e-file (XML) · FY2024IRS
Classification, formation year, addressIRS Business Master File
Names, privacy, and removal requests More

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