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La Paz De Dios

EIN 20-1115026 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF LA PAZ IS TO EMPOWER AND ENGAGE CHATTANOOGA'S LATINO POPULATION THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND INCLUSION.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
7.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
13
Volunteers
89
Highest pay
$128,298, executive director

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
  1. $566,356 spent. FAMILY STABILIZATION - WE OFFER BILINGUAL ACCESS AND REDUCE/REMOVE BARRIERS THROUGH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL NAVIGATION, RESOURCES, AND REFERRALS. LA PAZ RECEIVED 49,931 CALLS TO THE CALL FRONT DESK INTAKE AND ASSISTANCE IN 2024.MULTICULTURAL & BILINGUAL CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS NAVIGATION - 100 INDIVIDUALS SERVED BY OUR CASE MANAGERS MONTHLYRESOURCE & REFERRAL - HEALTHCARE ACCESS - $422,956 OF MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF APPROVED FOR 61 FAMILIESLEGAL ACCESS - OVER 49 COMMUNITY SCREENED FOR SIJS (SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS), 40 ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS 1-SIJS/T-VISA ELIGIBLE AND 2 STUDENTS - SIJS APPLICATION APPROVAL NOTICEON-SITE CHOICE FOOD PANTRY - 277 SNAP APPLICATIONS, 267 FAMILIES (INCLUDING 479 CHILDREN) 975 ACCESSED OUR ON-SITE FOOD PANTRYPARTNER SERVICES - LA PAZ INCREASED OUR CAPACITY BY NOT ONLY BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL STAFF, BUT ALSO PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.CHATTANOOGA AREA FOOD BANKACCESS TO FOOD - SNAPFAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICESHEALTH INSURANCE ACCESS - 491 PEOPLECHATTANOOGA URBAN LEAGUE - VITAACCESS TO FREE TAX ASSISTANCE - 50 PEOPLECEMPA COMMUNITY CAREACCESS TO HEALTHCARE - MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC - 70
  2. $232,732 spent. YHDP - YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR 6 PROPLE AND HOUSED 77 INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES (64 CLIENTS WITH CHILDREN). FIFTY-SEVEN EXITED THE PROGRAM.
  3. $143,033 spent. COMMUNITY BUILDING - ADVOCACY & PLACEMAKING - WE ARE INVESTED IN CHATTANOOGA BECOMING AND REMAINING A WELCOMING CITY FOR ALL PEOPLE AND WE WORK FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. IN 2024, WE HOSTED ADVOCACY EVENTS TO INCLUDE: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND FAMILY PREPAREDNESS CLINICS, REACHING 115 PEOPLE. LA PAZ SERVES AS A PARTNER IN THE BRIDGING COMMUNITIES COALITION, PLANNING QUARTERLY EVENTS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LATINO/IMMIGRANT GROUPS. WE DEVELOPED A LATINO ADVISORY COUNCIL AND SERVED AS A VOTING SITE FOR BOTH 2024 ELECTIONS.CAREER READINESS & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTASSET & WEALTH BUILDINGSTUDENT SUCCESS & DEVELOPMENTEARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT & LITERACYHEALTH & WELLNESSCOMMUNITY OUTREACHENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH - LA PAZ REACHED OVER 1800 PEOPLE THROUGH OUTREACH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS VACCINATION CLINICS AND SCHOOL CHOICE FAIRS. WE PARTICIPATED IN OVER 30 PARTNERING EVENTS. LA PAZ HOSTED ON-SITE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CHILDREN'S DANCE CLASSES AND SUMMER FAMILY ART CLASSES AS WELL.CIVIC ENGAGEMENTCOMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT - OVER 300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN OUR TU VOZ NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY, INCLUDING TWO EVENTS WITH OVER 100+ PEOPLE.
  4. $76,113 spent. DSEW - LA PAZ PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND WEALTH BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ENGAGEMENT.ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE - LA PAZ OFFERED SEVEN 10-WEEK CLASSES - 100 STUDENTS PARTICIPATEDCOMPUTER LITERACY - LA PAZ OFFERED FOUR 6-WEEK CLASSES - 49 STUDENTS PARTICIPATEDBUSINESS COHORT - 19 GRADUATESCOLLEGE COHORT - 15 GRANDUATESGENERAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS (HOMEOWNERSHIP, TAXES, ETC) - LA PAZ OFFERED A VARIETY OF CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS WITH OVER 183 COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.