Diaspora Counsel of Tanzanians in America
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 943470316
- IRS 990-EZ coverage
- 2016–2025
- Forms available
- Form 990-EZ 2025, Form 990-N 2024
- Location
- Blaine, MN, USA
- Rating confidence
- Limited
- Sector
- International Relief
Reported finances
- Revenue
- $56,166
- Expenses
- $58,850
- Assets
- $7,772
Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.
Leadership & pay
10 people listed
Executive titles in this filing
- Benjamin Kaimukilwa (President)
- Tina Lasway (Past President)
People named in this filing
- Benjamin Kaimukilwa (President)
- Tina Lasway (Past President)
- Michael Mwakilasa (Chair)
Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.
Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.
Overview
Mission
The Diaspora Council of Tanzanians in America DICOTA is a nonpartisan independent organization committed to strengthening economic social and cultural cooperation between Tanzania and the United States. Its mission is to mobilize the Tanzanian American Diaspora and supporters to improve livelihoods and wellbeing in both countries through collaboration idea exchange and advocacy. DICOTA serves as a hub for information on development and charitable opportunities related to Tanzania leveraging the Diasporas intellectual human and financial capital. Rather than directly implementing or funding projects the organization connects expertise resources and partners to support sustainable and impactful initiatives. Grounded in democratic and inclusive values DICOTA works to educate the public about Tanzania unite Tanzanians in the United States support charitable and relief efforts promote infrastructure development and provide a credible constructive voice on issues.
What it reported doing in 2025
DICOTA was formed in 2008 through a caucus meeting laying the foundation for organized engagement of the Tanzanian diaspora. In 2009 the first convention in Texas formally registered and finalized the organization focusing on Diaspora engagement in Tanzanias development and collaboration with Tanzanian embassies. The second convention in Minnesota 2010 emphasized active Diaspora participation in Kilimo Kwanza agriculture initiatives and marked the inception of Diaspora services such as WESTADI and the Tanzanite Account. In 2011 the third convention in the Washington DC area ratified bylaws conducted elections established relationships with major sponsors and launched the NSSF WESTADI Project. The fourth convention in Illinois 2012 saw DICOTA engage in the review of the Tanzanian Constitution and participate in the dual citizenship campaign. At the fifth convention in North Carolina 2014 DICOTA continued constitutional review efforts and developed a web based database of Tanzanians in the U.S. to support communication and mobilization. From 2016 to 2025 DICOTA continued to actively engage Tanzanians living in America together with their supporters through a range of programs activities and national events. The organization hosted Health Forums in Washington DC in 2017 and 2019 providing platforms for dialogue and community health awareness. In 2018 DICOTA held its national Convention in Seattle Washington followed by another successful Convention in Austin Texas in 2024. In 2025 DICOTA culminated this period of engagement with the launch of the URITHI Festival. URITHI FEST 2025 held August 3031 in Atlanta Georgia was positioned as a cultural homecoming for the Tanzanian diaspora. The two-day event offered celebration connection and access to services. Attendees experienced tribal dances and Afrobeats storytelling and language games a variety of Tanzanian cuisines comedy fashion and crafts youth activities a symbolic baton passing ceremony traditional games and the signature UMOJA NIGHT fostering unity across generations.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Earned-program. 86% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
- Distribution model
- Cannot be determined from the filing. The filing does not provide enough consistent spending detail to tell whether the nonprofit works directly or through others.
The verdict
- The available evidence is not sufficient to produce an overall rating for this filing. This is not a warning sign.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: NotEnoughData
- Transparency & Controls: 82
- Sustainability: 27
- Growth: 0
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: Limited
- Program expense ratio: Limited
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
- Major donor itemization: Limited
Sustainability
- Operating margin: -4.8%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.13; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
- Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: Limited
- Revenue growth: -5.4% per year; rating input score 0; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: -11.5% per year; rating input score 0; 16th percentile among comparable filings
Details
- Where the money goes: Financial trends and filed revenue, expense, asset, and liability detail
- Governance: Filed governance answers
- Accomplishments: 1 filed program accomplishment
- Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 10 people listed
- Consistency: 6 of 6 current checks pass
- Schedules: 2 filed schedules
- Filing history: 2 filing years from 2016 to 2025
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
- People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
Key Signals
Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.
- High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
- Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 35/100.
- High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
- High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 15/100.
- Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 56/100.