Foundation Escalera Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE EXIST TO UNLOCK ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR MARGINALIZED YOUTH IN CHIAPAS AND OAXACA THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATIONAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE ALL YOUTH IN EXTREME POVERTY HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION. IT IS A WORLD WHERE PROOF DRIVES POLICY: WHERE TRIAL-TESTED INNOVATIONS BECOME PUBLIC POLICY SOLUTIONS. THROUGH COORDINATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, ALL YOUTH IN EXTREME POVERTY LEAVE SCHOOL WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE WORLD, IMPROVING LIFE FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITIES, RESULTING IN GREATER ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE, DELAY IN EARLY MARRIAGE AND CHILDBEARING, HEALTHIER CHILDREN AND GREATER GENDER EQUALITY IN THIS GENERATION AND THE NEXT.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 21.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 95
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 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 (3)
- $1.0 million spent. REACH SENDS NINTH-GRADE STUDENTS TO HIGH SCHOOL WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT GO. IN RURAL CHIAPAS, LESS THAN HALF OF MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATES CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. REACH AIMS TO END THIS PROBLEM BY GIVING SMALL, WELL-TIMED SCHOLARSHIPS THAT HELP STUDENTS COVER THEIR HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM FEES AND COSTS OF SUPPLIES AND UNIFORMS IN SMALL INSTALLMENTS EVERY SEMESTER THEY REMAIN IN SCHOOL.
- $267,821 spent. EMPRENDE. ESCALERA SEEKS TO IMPROVE LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION IN INNOVATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE WAYS. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN CHIAPAS ARE SCARCE AND EVEN A GOOD EDUCATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE A JOB. INSTEAD, MANY STUDENTS WILL NEED TO CREATE THEIR OWN ENTERPRISES TO GENERATE INCOME. WE ARE USING A BEST-PRACTICE CURRICULUM FOR TEACHING THESE SKILLS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
- $38,959 spent. SCHOOL BUILDING. ESCALERA BELIEVES THAT A SAFE AND DIGNIFIED SPACE IS ESSENTIAL FOR KIDS TO LEARN AND THRIVE. LAST YEAR, WE BUILT A SCHOOL IN THE VILLAGE OF NUEVO POBLADO NARANJA SECA, TENEJAPA, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE YOUNG LIVING FOUNDATION AND THEIR VOLUNTEERS.
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 September 2004.
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.
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