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Non-profit

Maximum Difference Foundation

Location:

LOS ANGELES, CA
Tax ID:

33-1127669
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)-PF

Budget (2014):

Revenue: $195,832
Expenses: $154,461
Assets: $1,239,095

The Maximum Difference Foundation is a left-of-center grantmaking nonprofit based in Los Angeles, California. The group has two missions – one, stated on its website, is to empower parents and children to create better relationships. [1] The other, based upon its donations, appears to be the promotion of left-of-center and pro-Palestinian causes and organizations. [2]

The Foundation was founded by farming and real estate investor Michael Amin, who is involved with a number of Iranian cultural and political groups, including the controversial National Iranian American Council (NIAC). Amin sat on the board of NIAC from 2008 through 2010;[3] the group receives substantial funding from Maximum Difference Foundation. [4]

Mission

The Maximum Difference Foundation assists parents in creating better relationships with their children. It promotes four steps which it says “really good parents” – watching and reading relevant material, enrolling in parenting classes, and meeting with skilled counselors and therapists as necessary. [5] It has paid for parenting-related adverts in the Los Angeles metro area. [6]

The Foundation also provides funding to left-of-center groups like the American Civil Liberties Foundation and pro-Palestinian organizations. Its 2017 donations include:[7]

  • $10,000 to the 9/11 conspiracy group Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth
  • $100,000 to the National Iranian American Council, a group that supports the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear weapons deal and is critical of sanctions against Iran as well as of Israel. [8] [9] [10] [11]
  • $40,000 to the Palestinian Advocacy Project. [12]
  • $65,000 to the Tides Center’s Palestinian Legal initiative, which provides legal assistance to efforts in America to critique Israel and defend Palestinians. [13]

Financials

Virtually all of the Maximum Difference Foundation’s 2017 revenues came from founder Michael Amin. [14] It donated over $500,000 in 2017, spending over $639,000. Its 2017 activities brought its assets from over $763,000 to under $267,000. [15]

Leadership

Amin is the Maximum Difference Foundation’s sole donor. He is also its founder. [16] [17] A real estate investor, he has been involved in many Iranian-related groups, having sat on the Board of Directors for the National Iranian American Council. He is a trustee of the Iranian culture group Farhang Foundation. [18] [19]

References

  1. Maximum Difference Foundation, About. Accessed February 14, 2020. http://www.maximumdifferencefoundation.org/about-us/ ^
  2. ProPublica, Maximum Difference Foundation, 2017 990-PF. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/331127669/03_2019_prefixes_31-35%2F331127669_201712_990PF_2019030716154897 ^
  3. IMDb, Michael Amin Biography. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2706378/bio ^
  4. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the IRS. Queries conducted February 19, 2020. ^
  5. Maximum Difference Foundation, How To. Accessed February 14, 2020. http://www.maximumdifferencefoundation.org/how-to/ ^
  6. IMDb, Michael Amin Biography. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2706378/bio ^
  7. ProPublica, Maximum Difference Foundation, 2017 990-PF. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/331127669/03_2019_prefixes_31-35%2F331127669_201712_990PF_2019030716154897 ^
  8. [1] National Iranian American Council, “NIAC statement on reports that Iran will halt compliance with aspects of Nuclear Deal,” May 06, 2019. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.niacouncil.org/niac-statement-on-reports-that-iran-will-halt-compliance-with-aspects-of-nuclear-deal/ ^
  9. National Iranian American Council, “NIAC statement on the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif,” July 31, 2019. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.niacouncil.org/niac-statement-imposition-u-s-sanctions-iranian-foreign-minister-zarif/ ^
  10. Assal Rad, “2020 marked by a  tumultuous start for human rights in Iran,” January 20, 2020. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.niacouncil.org/2020-marked-tumultuous-start-human-rights-iran/ ^
  11. Nahal Toosi, “Iranian-Americans set up lobbying arm to counter pro-Israel groups,” June 27, 2015. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/iranians-american-pac-niac-counter-pro-israel-lobby-119483 ^
  12. Palestine Advocacy Project, Main Website Page. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.palestineadvocacyproject.org/ ^
  13. Tides, Palestine Legal. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.tides.org/project/social-venture/palestine-legal/ ^
  14. [1] ProPublica, Maximum Difference Foundation, 2017 990-PF. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/331127669/03_2019_prefixes_31-35%2F331127669_201712_990PF_2019030716154897 ^
  15. [1] ProPublica, Maximum Difference Foundation, 2017 990-PF. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/331127669/03_2019_prefixes_31-35%2F331127669_201712_990PF_2019030716154897 ^
  16. [1] IMDb, Michael Amin Biography. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2706378/bio   ^
  17. [1] ProPublica, Maximum Difference Foundation, 2017 990-PF. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/331127669/03_2019_prefixes_31-35%2F331127669_201712_990PF_2019030716154897 ^
  18. [1] Farhang Foundation, Michael Amin – Trustee. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://farhang.org/board-of-trustees/michael-amin ^
  19. [1] IMDb, Michael Amin Biography. Accessed February 14, 2020. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2706378/bio ^
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2007

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2014 Dec Form PF $195,832 $154,461 $1,239,095 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $229,273 $127,319 $1,197,724 $0 N $100,000 $0 $25,759 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $216,764 $123,292 $1,095,770 $0 N $199,945 $0 $12,986 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,000,022 $8,277 $1,004,818 $2,520 N $1,000,000 $0 $22 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Map image for Maximum Difference Foundation

    Maximum Difference Foundation

    968 KENFIELD AVE
    LOS ANGELES, CA 90049-1405