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Center for Southeast Asians

EIN 22-2914654 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FAMILY HARMONY AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING THAT EMPLOYS A FAMILY SUPPORT MODEL THAT WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SYSTEMS. SERVICES RANGE FROM CRISIS INTERVENTION TO SUPPORT WITH BASIC NEEDS AND SOCIAL WELFARE. WORKING TO BRIDGE LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL BARRIERS, EMPOWERS AND ENABLES FAMILIES TO STABILIZE AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS. CSEA HAS WORKED TO BRIDGE THE LANGUAGE, CULTURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BARRIERS BETWEEN SEA REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS AND MAINSTREAM SOCIETY. THE EXISTING NEEDS AND CHALLENGES FACING MANY SEA ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO THESE BARRIERS AND THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RIGHTS AS U.S. CITIZENS AND THE INFLUENCE THEY CAN HAVE ON PUBLIC POLICY AND DECISION MAKING IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT. MANY, IF NOT MOST, SEA ARE TAUGHT FROM A VERY EARLY AGE THAT QUESTIONING AUTHORITY IS SEEN AS A LACK OF RESPECT. THIS LEARNED MENTALITY PREVENTS MANY INDIVIDUALS FROM VOICING THEIR BELIEFS AND ADVOCATING FOR IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING THEI

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
15
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$399,113, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 September 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. $672,664 spent. INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE BANK - A FEE-FOR-SERVICE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION SERVICES IN OVER 30 LANGUAGES, 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
  2. $2.5 million spent. SOCIAL SERVICES- CASE MANAGEMENT: PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, FOCUSING ON CRISIS INTERVENTION, GOAL ORIENTATION, ETC. SERVICES ARE CLIENT DRIVEN AND STRENGTH BASED. ALSO, THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED OF SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY, THE MAJORITY OF CLIENTS ARE LOW-INCOME AND MANY ARE ELIGIBLE AND DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT BENEFITS SUCH AS SNAP AND MEDICAID. - VICTIMS OF CRIME ASSISTANCE: ADVOCACY, ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VICTIM OF CRIME.- VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA): FREE TAX PREPARATION DURING THE TAX SEASON.- ADULT LITERACY: ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS FOR BEGINNING, INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCE.- ELDERLY SERVICES AND MEAL SITE: ELDERLY MEAL SITE PROVIDES HOT MEALS, SOCIAL NETWORKING, AND HEALTH AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. IN ADDITION, ELDERS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH BASIC NEEDS ON A WALK-IN BASIS.- GENERAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES: ASSISTS CLIENTS WITH A VARIETY OF IMMIGRATION SERVICES INCLUDING CITIZENSHIP CLASSES, HELP TO FILL OUT/SUBMIT CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS, AND SUPPORT AT THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE.- COMMUNITY HEALTH: COVID TESTING AND VACCINES, PARTNERSHIP WITH PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER- TRANSITIONAL HOUSING- RENT RELIEF
  3. $417,184 spent. YOUTH AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT- CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAININGS: A FEE-FOR-SERVICE PROVIDING THE TOOLS TO STRENGTHEN PROFESSIONALS' UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY.- DREAM STUDY: DIABETES PREVENTION AMONG CAMBODIANS. DIABETES RISK REDUCTION THROUGH EAT, WALK, SLEEP AND MEDICATION THERAPY MANAGEMENT.- AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA): ASSISTANCE WITH ENROLLMENT AND SELECTING HEALTH CARE INSURANCE OPTIONS.- AUTISM PROJECT: RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT AUTISM IN THE COMMUNITY.- OBESITY PROJECT: A 3 YEARS PARTNERSHIP WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY TO TEST A MULTILEVEL, MULTICOMPONENT, MULTIGENERATIONAL DIETARY INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE SOUTHEAST ASIAN CHILDREN'S DIETS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 October 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.