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Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport Incorporated

EIN 22-2859879 · Bridgeport, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MERCY LEARNING CENTER EMPOWERS WOMEN TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH FREE TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION IN A COMPASSIONATE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
28.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
67
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$195,849, president & ceo

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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. $2.4 million spent. ADULT EDUCATION: MERCY LEARNING CENTER'S ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE WOMEN WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ENGLISH, ACQUIRE BASIC MATH AND WRITING SKILLS, OBTAIN A U.S. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, BECOME MORE ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND IMPORTANTLY, TO SECURE THEIR FIRST JOB IN THE U.S. OR OBTAIN HIGHER WAGE EMPLOYMENT. THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) CLASSES, ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE), AND 4-5 HOURS OF COMPUTER LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING EACH WEEK. FOR THOSE SEEKING THEIR U.S. HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, BOTH GENERAL EDUCATION DIPLOMA (GED) AND NATIONAL EXTERNAL DIPLOMA PROGRAM PREPARATION AND TESTING ARE PROVIDED. PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS, TRAINING FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND TRANSITIONING TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ARE MAJOR FOCI, ESPECIALLY AS WOMEN ENTER MORE ADVANCED CLASSES. STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF ONGOING ENRICHMENT WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS INCLUDING HEALTH, PARENTING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, SAFETY, AND ART APPRECIATION. OFFERED ON A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME TRACK, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THE FLEXIBILITY FOR LEARNERS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO TRACKS BASED ON CHANGING DEMANDS OF WORK AND FAMILY. IN 2024-2025, 492 WOMEN FROM OVER 3 DOZEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, ALL OF WHOM ARE ASSET-LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED (ALICE) OR LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
  2. $725,052 spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM: MERCY LEARNING CENTERS' STATE-LICENSED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM (ECEP) PROVIDES STUDENTS' CHILDREN AGED 3 MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS OLD WITH COMPASSIONATE AND STIMULATING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR KINDERGARTEN READINESS IN ENGLISH-DOMINATE CLASSROOMS. AGE APPROPRIATE, ROUTINE-BASED SCHEDULES ARE IMPLEMENTED TO ORGANIZE ACTIVITES INTO A DAILY STRUCTURE, INCLUDING INTERACTIVE PLAY, EXPLORATION AND INVESTIGATION, ENGLISH LANGUAGE IMMERSION, STORY-TIME, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND PLAYGROUND TIME. EACH OF OUR THREE CLASSROOMS PROVIDE BRIGHT, COLORFUL, CLEAN SPACES WHERE UP TO 20 CHILDREN (60 TOTAL AT A TIME) CAN LEARN, PLAY AND BE CARED FOR IN THE SAME BUILDING WHERE THEIR MOTHERS ARE ATTENDING CLASSES. CHILDREN ATTEND OUR ECEP PROGRAM ON-SITE WHILE THEIR MOTHERS ARE IN CLASS TO ELIMINATE THE BARRIER OF CHILDCARE IN A WOMAN'S EDUCATION. THE ECEP CURRICULUM HOLISTICALLY IMPROVES CHILDREN'S OVERALL DEVELOPMENT: PRE-LITERACY, PROBLEM-SOLVING, SELF-HELP, AND FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS, AS WELL AS COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS.

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 April 1988.

    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.