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La Vida Inc

EIN 04-3396256 · Lynn, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LA VIDA INC.'S MISSION IS TO EQUIP LOW-INCOME, HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS IN LYNN AND CHELSEA, MA WITH THE RESOURCES AND PREPARATION THEY NEED TO ENTER COLLEGES, AND TO AWARD PARENTS WHO SAVE TOWARD COLLEGE WITH MATCHED FUNDS AND THE TRAINING NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING THEIR CHILD'S HIGHER EDUCATION.FORM 990, PART IV, LINE 12A: FORM 990 IS BEING PREPARED WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF FILING. UPON COMPLETION OF THE AUDIT, IF THERE ARE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, APPROPRIATE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
12
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$161,215, executive director

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 206% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $904,306 spent. LA VIDA, INC. IS A THREE-YEAR AFTER-SCHOOL COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME, HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO LIVE IN THE CITIES OF LYNN AND CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS. STUDENT PARTICIPANTS EVALUATE BEST COLLEGE FIT, COMPLETE FINANCIAL AID AND COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, AND BEGIN TO PLAN THEIR FUTURE CAREER. PARENT PARTICIPANTS MEET MONTHLY TO LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN IN THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS.

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

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1998.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 October 7, 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.