Zahara Kathawalla Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
851807248
IRS 990 coverage
2024–2025
Forms available
Form 990 2025, Form 990-EZ 2023, Form 990-N 2020
Location
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Phone
9524654659
Rating
49
Verdict
MIXED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Youth Development Programs

Reported finances

Revenue
$230,247
Expenses
$27,241
Assets
$892,669
Liabilities
$14,953

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

10 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • UMMUL KATHWALLA (PRESIDENT)

People named in this filing

  • FARIDA KATHAWALLA (DIRECTOR)
  • SALIM KATHAWALLA (TREASURER)
  • UMMUL KATHWALLA (PRESIDENT)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2025. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The purpose of the zkf is to honor zaharas legacy by awarding funding that supports young individuals on their path toward personal growth through broadened experiences and opportunities in three intersecting areas: education, cultural exploration, and wellness. Funding is need-based.

What it reported doing in 2025

In 2025, the organization supported cultural awareness and global engagement by funding student participation in international programs. The zahara kathawalla memorial fund for global studies at the blake school provided financial assistance for upper school students to join school- sponsored global programs. The zahara kathawalla foundation provided a scholarship to a student at the culinary institute of america who is studying abroad and receiving an asian concentration. These grants enabled students with financial need to access immersive educational travel experiences.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 91% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 100% of its reported program spending out as grants.

The verdict

MIXED - The filed numbers largely add up and program spending has grown recently. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of voting board members are independent.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 26
  • Transparency & Controls: 93
  • Accountability: 6
  • Sustainability: 88
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 10.7%; rating input score 11
  • Program expense ratio: 42.6%; rating input score 43
  • Fundraising efficiency: $14.77 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Limited
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 88.2%; rating input score 99; 99th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 32.77; rating input score 98; 98th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 17.3% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 33% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 10.7% of revenue deployed · 42.6% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 0 of 13 board members independent · 1 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 4 filed program accomplishments · $12K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 10 people listed
  • Consistency: 19 of 19 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes grants
  • Filing history: 2 filing years from 2024 to 2025
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 5 filed money-flow records
  • 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 — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 11/100.
  • High — Accountability: Independent voting board scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 43/100.
  • High — Accountability: Governance controls: 5 of 6 not reported.
  • Moderate — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 47/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 36/100.