Polus Center for Social and Economic Development
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE POLUS CENTER FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INC. STRIVES TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND MEMBERS OF OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS TO BECOME VALUED CITIZENS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $106,634, ceo int'l programs
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 43 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 38% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 87 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
- $1.3 million spent. TRAINING AND CONSULTING - WORKING WITH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THEM PLAN AND IMPLEMENT ECONOMIC, SOCIAL INTERGRATION, AND COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION PROJECTS. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THESE PLANNING SESSIONS OFFERS A UNIQUE ACTION LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN ABOUT VICTIM ASSISTANCE AND DEVELOPING A PERSON-CENTERED HUMAN SERVICE MODEL. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES LEADERSHIP TRAINING, ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT, AND SMALL BUSINESS CAPACITY BUILDING TO BOTH NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ADVOCATES FOR JOB DEVELOPMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SO THAT THEY MIGHT FIND JOBS BASED ON THEIR SKILLS AND INTERESTS.
- THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM - COORDINATE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE LONG-TERM NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PARTICULARARLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO LOST LIMBS DUE TO ACTS OF WAR, LANDMINES AND DISEASES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ESTABLISHED VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PROSTHETIC CLINICS AND DISTRIBUTION, JOB TRAINING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND ACCESSIBILITY. THE POLUS CENTER ACTIVELY WORKED ON VICTIM ASSISTANCE EFFORTS IN COLOMBIA, JORDAN, IRAQ, AND THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 July 1980.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (Kuwait), EIN 98-0211642. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.