Faith and Community Empowerment
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FAITH AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT (FACE)'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY'S PARTICIPATION, CONTRIBUTION, AND INFLUENCE THROUGH FAITH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
- Income
- $851,500
- Spending
- $463,064
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 44.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $142,241, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 44.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $248,739 spent. HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM:AS A HUD-APPROVED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY, FACE ASSISTS FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS IN THEIR HOMEOWNERSHIP PROCESS THROUGH HOMEBUYER EDUCATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND COUNSELING. PROSPECTIVE HOMEOWNERS LEARN ABOUT GOVERNMENT DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, ESCROW, AND RELATED TOPICS THAT WILL EQUIP THEM TO PURCHASE A HOME AND BE AN INFORMED, SMART BUYER. WE PROVIDE AN 8- HOUR CLASS CERTIFICATE FOR THOSE WHO SIGN UP FOR OUR HOMEBUYER EDUCATION CLASS. TO DATE, FACE HAS CONNECTED OVER 16,000 POTENTIAL BUYERS WITH OVER $4 MILLION IN DOWN PAYMENT AND OTHER ASSISTANCE, OUR 27TH HOMEOWNERSHIP FAIR. IT HAD 1,000 ATTENDEES FROM NINE COUNTIES AND 183 CITIES. ADDITIONALLY, FACE PROVIDES EXISTING HOMEOWNERS WITH MORTGAGE RELIEF AND FORECLOSURE PREVENTION COUNSELING, SAVING OVER $93 MILLION IN MORTGAGES FROM GOING INTO FORECLOSURE.
- $20,410 spent. CHURCH & NON-PROFIT LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY TRAININGC2 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE: CHURCH & NON-PROFIT LEADERSHIPC2 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IS A TRANSFORMATIVE 15- WEEK LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS LEADERS AND AWAKENS THEM TO NEW POSSIBILITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR THEIR MINISTRIES BY STRENGTHENING CHURCH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY. THROUGH THE C2 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, C2 FELLOWS GAIN THE TOOLS, SKILLS AND RELATIONSHIPS TO CREATE SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THEIR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE INSTITUTE, EACH FELLOW LAUNCHES OR STRENGTHENS A COMMUNITY PROJECT. FELLOWS ARE MENTORED BY VARIOUS LEADERS, INCLUDING FUNDERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, MEDIA, FAITH LEADERS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS. FELLOWS DEVELOP THEIR PROJECTS USING THE SKILLS THEY ATTAIN SUCH AS FUNDRAISING, MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, PARTNERSHIP BUILDING, NETWORKING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, GRANT WRITING, EVENTING, ADVOCACY, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, OUTREACH STRATEGIES, AND COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS. FINALLY, FELLOWS RECEIVE ONGOING ONE ON ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR PROJECT. TO DATE WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN 8 COHORTS. FIRST LADIES LUMIERE: CHURCHES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING IMMIGRANTS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES NAVIGATE AND THRIVE IN AMERICAN LIFE-OFFERING HOPE, SUPPORT, AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE. BEHIND MANY OF THESE EFFORTS ARE PASTORS' WIVES-OUR "FIRST LADIES"-WHO SERVE FAITHFULLY, OFTEN WITHOUT PAY, TITLE, OR PUBLIC RECOGNITION. THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, THOUGH ESSENTIAL, ARE FREQUENTLY MADE QUIETLY AND BEHIND THE SCENES. LUMIRE, MEANING "LIGHT" IN FRENCH, SYMBOLIZES OUR DESIRE TO HONOR THESE INCREDIBLE WOMEN BY SHINING A LIGHT ON THEIR SELFLESS SERVICE AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT. THE FIRST LADIES' LUMIRE CELEBRATION IS A SPECIAL OCCASION TO RECOGNIZE THEIR SACRIFICE, UPLIFT THEIR STORIES, AND ALLOW THEIR LIGHT TO SHINE A LITTLE BRIGHTER.
- $120,682 spent. ADVOCACY/RACE RELATIONSFACE HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE IN LIFTING UP THE AAPI AND FAITH VOICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED AND VOICELESS ON NUMEROUS ISSUES LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY. SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE FACE IS ENGAGING INCLUDES HOUSING & HOMEOWNERSHIP, IMMIGRATION REFORM, ELECTRIC CARS/CLEAN ENERGY, PEACE ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA, AND AN INCLUSIVE ETHNIC CURRICULUM, AMONGST OTHERS. FACE HAS ALSO HOSTED MANY CONVENINGS WITH GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE DECISION MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WOULD ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACED BY THE COMMUNITY. SOME PAST CONVENINGS HAVE INCLUDED FREDDIE MAC, SBA, METRO CEO, LAPD, LAHSA, VARIOUS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHITE HOUSE, SAMHSA, HUD, US. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SECRETARY, AMONGST OTHERS. IN ADDITION, FACE HOSTED A KOREAN AMERICAN ROUNDTABLE ON FAITH AND MENTAL HEALTH WITH UCI AND KOREAN AMERICAN FAITH LEADERS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, SCHOLARS AND NONPROFIT LEADERS AFFORDABLE HOUSING: FACE'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE EMPOWERS AND EDUCATES CHURCHES ON HOW TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. FACE IS WALKING WITH CHURCHES AND CONNECTING THEM TO THE RIGHT ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THEIR LAND. IN TURN, CHURCHES ARE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEIR MINISTRY AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. SAIGU: BLACK/ASIAN SOLIDARITY & STOP AAPI HATE INITIATIVEWITH THE SURGE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES FACE HAS WORKED TO BRING SOLIDARITY BETWEEN THE BLACK AND AAPI COMMUNITY THROUGH SEVERAL INTIMATE MEETINGS BETWEEN BLACK AND ASIAN CLERGY AS WELL AS SEMINARS AND AAPI TOWN HALLS TO DISCUSS MODEL MINORITY MYTH THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN USED AS A BARRIER BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS. AS PART OF OUR STOP AAPI HATE INITIATIVE, FACE HAS ALSO WORKED TO SHED LIGHT ON THE OPPRESSION AND NEEDS OF THE AAPI COMMUNITY. FACE HOSTED "STOP THE HATE: INTERFAITH DIALOGUE WITH THE HELP OF ETHNIC MEDIA. YOUTH @WORK : AAPI CAREER PATHWAYS INITIATIVE THE AAPI POPULATION MAKES UP 17% OF THE COUNTY POPULATION, YET ONLY 3% OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE LA COUNTY'S PAID JOB TRAINING/INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, YOUTH@WORK, ARE AAPI STUDENTS. THE AAPI CAREER PATHWAYS INITIATIVE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LA COUNTY WDACS, IS AIMED TO ADDRESS THIS GAP. THROUGH FACE'S INITIATIVE, AAPI YOUTH (14-24) WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THESE PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH MENTORS AND TO ATTEND MONTHLY MENTORSHIP LEADERSHIP SEMINARS. FACE HOSTED ITS MONTHLY COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SERIES WITH IVY SCHOLARS AND LACAAEA.DONOR ADVISORY BOARD/ HOLIDAY RECEPTIONDONOR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROMOTING FACE'S VISION AND EXPANDING OUR REACH. MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO EXCLUSIVE, INTIMATE GATHERINGS WHERE MEMBERS CAN MEET AND NETWORK WITH FACE LEADERSHIP, STAFF, AND OTHER COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS LEADERS TWO TO THREE TIMES A YEAR. IN ADDITION, MEMBERS ARE GIVEN PRIORITY INVITATIONS TO FACE EVENTS AND OTHER EXCLUSIVE OFFERS, AS WELL AS RECOGNITION ON FACE'S WEBSITE AND EMAIL BLAST. ENTERING 2025, FACE WELCOMED 50 DONOR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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