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Assistance League of El Paso

EIN 23-7021166 · El Paso, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ESTABLISHED IN 1967, ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF EL PASO JOINED THE NATIONAL ASSISTANCE LEAGUE AS THE 50TH CHAPTER IN 1970 AND HAS 100% OF ITS PROGRAMS RUN BY VOLUNTEERS DEDICATED TO HELPING THE EL PASO COMMUNITY "VOLUNTEERS TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS." THE MAJOR PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF EL PASO, OPERATION SCHOOL BELL, PROVIDES APPROPRIATE NEW SCHOOL CLOTHING TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL AS LIVING IN POVERTY REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR HANDICAPPING CONDITIONS. IT IS GENERALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT WHEN BASIC HUMAN NEEDS ARE NOT MET, A CHILD'S HOME LIFE CAN BE AFFECTED, WHICH NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION OF THAT CHILD. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE 2,500 PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN IN GRADES K THROUGH 5 WITH SCHOOL CLOTHING THIS YEAR; TO INCREASE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND IN TURN IMPROVE SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT. PASO (PUT A SMILE ON) BEAR, IN COLLABORATION WITH EL PASO EMERGENCY SERVICES, PROVIDES 500 CUDDLY BEA

Income
$579,051
Spending
$392,789
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
48.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 49%
Employees
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 48.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • 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.

  • 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 May 31, 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)
  1. $252,778 spent. THE OPERATION SCHOOL BELL PROGRAM HAS BEEN A WELCOME PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY-SEVEN YEARS BECAUSE IT PROVIDES RESOURCES WHEN FAMILIES NEED THEM THE MOST. ALL THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITHIN THE NINE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF EL PASO COUNTY ARE INVITED TO SELECT CHILDREN IN NEED TO RECEIVE CLOTHING. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, OPERATION SCHOOL BELL VOLUNTEERS HAVE CLOTHED OVER 109,000 STUDENTS. CHILDREN RECEIVE THREE PAIR OF UNIFORM PANTS OR JEANS, TWO SHIRTS IN THE REQUIRED SCHOOL COLORS AND ONE SHIRT IN THE STUDENT'S CHOICE OF COLOR, PACKAGES OF SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR, A PAIR OF ATHLETIC SHOES, A HOODED ZIPPER JACKET, AND A PERSONAL HYGIENE BAG CONTAINING HAIR AND DENTAL CARE SUPPLIES. THE CURRENT AVERAGE COST PER STUDENT IS $95.
  2. $14,758 spent. PASO (Put A Smile On) Bear, the second philanthropic program administered by Assistance League, is a program that provides cuddly teddy bears to first-responder service agencies; such as police and fire departments and other agencies, so they may in turn hand them out to children involved in traumatic situations or, sometimes, to adults in the same circumstances.
  3. $14,288 spent. The third program is Assault Survivor Kits (ASK). Personal hygiene items and some simple clothing items are provided to sexual assault and/or rape victims (men, women and children) in the hospital (in collaboration with The Center Against Family Violence response services) when the clothing they are wearing has to be confiscated as evidence by the police.
  4. $18,219 spent. WE HELP OTHERS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 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 May 2025.

    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 May 1969.

    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.

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