African Refugee Immigrant Organization

What it reported doing in 2025

Youth & family support services: ario provides wraparound support to refugee and immigrant youth and their families as they navigate school, services, and life in a new country. Programming includes youth leadership development, academic and mentorship support, and family case management delivered in families' home languages. The aim is to keep young people connected to school, family, and community while building the confidence and skills to thrive.health equity, healthcare enrollment, education support, rental assistance & employment services: ario closes the gaps that keep african immigrant and refugee families from accessing the systems around them. Healthcare system navigators and community health workers help families enroll in coverage, find providers, and understand their benefits; education staff support school enrollment, parent/teacher communication, and academic advocacy; and economic stability staff connect families to rental assistance, job readiness, and employment opportunities. Every service is offered in-language and tailored to each family's culture and circumstances.substance use disorder, peer support & mental health services: ario offers culturally specific behavioral health support through peer support specialists and community health workers who share language and lived experience with the people they serve. Services include substance use disorder support and recovery navigation, peer-based mental health support, and connection to clinical care all designed to overcome the stigma and access barriers that too often keep community members from seeking help.violence prevention: through community-based prevention and healing work, ario interrupts cycles of violence and supports those affected by it. Trusted community members work alongside youth and families to offer mentorship, conflict de-escalation, trauma-informed support, and pathways to safer, more connected lives.community health, resilience & belonging: this cluster spans communicable disease prevention, emergency preparedness, and environmental health and climate change equipping families with the information, resources, and culturally grounded support to stay healthy and ready for emergencies, including the rising health impacts of a changing climate. It also includes the programs that nourish and bring the community together: a food pantry that meets immediate needs, youth sports like soccer and basketball, summer camps for young people, and community gatherings and celebrations that sustain culture, connection, and belonging across ario's 28+ countries of origin.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 56.1%; rating input score 56
• Program expense ratio: 69.9%; rating input score 70
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.98 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 66.7%; rating input score 67; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 19.7%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.58; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.9%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 51.7% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 35.7% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 53.1% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings