Mercado Global Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MERCADO GLOBAL EMPOWERS RURUAL ARTISIAN ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS THE AMERICAS TO LIFT THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY THROUGH BUSINESS TRAINING AND ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. THROUGH OUR NONPROFIT MODEL, WE STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES, WEAVING MARKET ACCESS, COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION,AND ASSET DEVELOPMENT INTO A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE TO OVERCOME POVERTY.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 0
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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 85% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 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 (4)
- $969,615 spent. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM OUR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM HELPS RURAL ARTISAN ENTREPRENEURS BREAK THE CYCLE OF LOCAL POVERTY THROUGH MARKET ACCESS, BUSINESS EDUCATION, AND ASSET DEVELOPMENT.THROUGH OUR MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM, WE HELP OVER 1,000 RURAL ARTISAN ENTREPRENEURS BUILD THEIR OWN COMMUNITY ARTISAN BUSINESSES AND ACCESS INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. THE RURAL ARTISANS WE PARTNER WITH ARE INCREDIBLY TALENTED WEAVERS WHOSE MAIN OBSTACLE TO OVERCOME POVERTY IS LACK OF ACCESS TO A MARKET. NOW, THROUGH THEIR WORK WITH MERCADO GLOBAL, THESE ARTISANS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET AND EARN A FAIR WAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES. WITH OUR PARTNER ARTISANS, WE DESIGN COLLECTIONS FOR MAJOR INTERNATIONAL FASHION BRANDS AND RETAILERS THAT ARE HANDMADE IN THEIRCOMMUNITIES.THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS TRAINING IN LOCAL LANGUAGES THAT COMPLEMENT MARKET ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES. BUILDING BUSINESS SKILLS AND MARKET-READY TECHNICAL WEAVING AND SEWING SKILLS,WHEN PAIRED WITH INCOME-EARNING OPPORTUNITIES, ENABLES RURAL ARTISANS TO BECOME CONFIDENT LEADERS WHO LOOK AFTER THEIR FAMILIES' HEALTH, FINANCES, AND EDUCATION.THROUGH OUR ASSET DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WE HELP RURAL ARTISANS SECURE THEIR OWN FLOOR LOOMS, SEWING MACHINES AND OTHER PRODUCTIVE ASSETS NEEDED TO ENSURE FUTURE INCOME GENERATION. WE ALSO HELP BUILD THE PRACTICE OF SAVING SO THAT RURAL ARTISANS HAVE A BUFFER AGAINST A RETURN TO POVERTY AND CAN INVEST IN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
- $355,843 spent. RURAL ENTREPRENEURS LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMIN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, OUR COMMUNITY-BASED RURAL ENTREPRENEURSLEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM HELPS RURAL ARTISANS GAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES AND LIFT THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY. OUR LEADERSHIP TRAINING CLASSES ARE CONDUCTED IN OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES AND COVER TOPICS RANGING FROM FINANCIAL LITERACY TO LEADERSHIP SKILLS, GOAL-SETTING, SELF-ESTEEM AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR RURAL ARTISAN ENTREPRENEURS. OUR IN-HOUSE BUSINESS TRAINING TEAM PROVIDES COURSES IN EACH OF OUR PARTNER COMMUNITIES FOR RURAL ARTISANS, MOST OF WHOM CANNOT READ AND WRITE, AND WHO ARE LEARNING TO NAVIGATE BUSINESS-OWNERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME.
- $189,795 spent. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMWE SEEK TO BUILD MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND FACILITATE CULTURAL EXHCANGE BETWEEN ARTISAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE AMERICAS AND OUR SUPPORTER COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMM, INDIVIDUALS FROM THE U.S. VISIT COMMUNITIES IN GUATEMALA TO SEE THE IMPACT OF THEIR SUPPORT. LIKEWISE, OUR CURRENT AND PAST STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS ACT AS FAIR TRADE AMBASSADORS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. THROUGH SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OTHER AWARENESS-RAISING FUNCTIONS.
- $136,086 spent. DESIGN A DIFFERENCE PROGRAMAS PIONEERS IN THE ETHICAL-SOURCING MOVEMENT WITHIN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, WE EDUCATE LEADING U.S.-BASED DESIGNERS ABOUT RESPONSIBLE SOURCING THROUGH OUR DESIGN A DIFFERENCE PROGRAM. DESIGNERSFROM MAJOR U.S. FASHION HOUSES COME TO OUR OFFICES TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR ARTISANS AND LEARNABOUT THE IMPACT THAT SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION HAS IN THESE COMMUNITIES. IN TURN, THE DESIGNERSEXTEND THEIR EXPERTISE IN PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTLY TO OUR ARTISANS. UPON RETURNINGTO THE U.S., THESE DESIGNERS ARE THEN ABLE TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND ADOPT SUSTAINABLEPRACTICES WITHIN THEIR COMPANIES. IN THIS WAY WE ARE REACHING THE PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS ON THECUTTING EDGE OF INDUSTRY WITH FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH RESPONSIBLESOURCING.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.