Mother & Child Education Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MOTHER & CHILD EDUCATION CENTER (MCEM) IS A NONPROFIT IN PORTLAND, OREGON, PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE, JUDGMENT-FREE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES NAVIGATING PREGNANCY, PARENTING, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD. MCEC BUILDS STRONG CONNECTIONS IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING A JUDGMENT-FREE SPACE WHERE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 05 CAN ACCESS NO-COST RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORT. THE CENTER HELPS CAREGIVERS ACCESS ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY WELL-BEING
- Income
- $445,054
- Spending
- $428,891
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- 5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 123
- Highest pay
- $71,524, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 69 out of 100.
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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 December 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 (1)
- $221,554 spent. FOR OVER 50 YEARS, MCEC HAS SERVED AS A CRITICAL SAFETY-NET PROVIDER FOR FAMILIES FACING POVERTY, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, HOUSING INSTABILITY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION. DURING THE EARLIEST AND MOST VULNERABLE YEARS OF A CHILDS LIFE, MOTHER & CHILD ENSURES FAMILIES HAVE THE STABILITY AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO REMAIN HEALTHY AND CONNECTED. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF INCOME, IMMIGRATION STATUS, OR LANGUAGE AND ARE DELIVERED IN A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. MCEC PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT THROUGH ON-SITE APPOINTMENTS, EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. PROGRAMS INCLUDE CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION, NEWBORN CARE, SAFE SLEEP, EARLY LITERACY, AND PARENTING SUPPORT. FAMILIES ALSO RECEIVE ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES SUCH AS DIAPERS, CLOTHING, FOOD, HYGIENE ITEMS, FORMULA, BOOKS, AND LARGER EQUIPMENT INCLUDING CAR SEATS, CRIBS, AND STROLLERS. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES FIVE DAYS PER WEEK AND MAINTAINS STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES, INCLUDING WIC, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND HOME VISITING PROGRAMS, TO CONNECT FAMILIES WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. MCEC ALSO EXTENDS ITS REACH THROUGH DIGITAL COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY- BASED OUTREACH. IN 2025, MOTHER & CHILD SUPPORTED OVER 2,300 INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES REPRESENTING MORE THAN 30 SPOKEN LANGUAGES AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 23,623 ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO HELP MEET BASIC NEEDS AND PROMOTE FAMILY STABILITY. FOR OVER 50 YEARS, MCEC HAS SERVED AS A CRITICAL SAFETY-NET PROVIDER FOR FAMILIES FACING POVERTY, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, HOUSING INSTABILITY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND SOCIAL ISOLATION. DURING THE EARLIEST AND MOST VULNERABLE YEARS OF A CHILDS LIFE, MOTHER & CHILD ENSURES FAMILIES HAVE THE STABILITY AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO REMAIN HEALTHY AND CONNECTED. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF INCOME, IMMIGRATION STATUS, OR LANGUAGE AND ARE DELIVERED IN A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. MCEC PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT THROUGH ON-SITE APPOINTMENTS, EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. PROGRAMS INCLUDE CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION, NEWBORN CARE, SAFE SLEEP, EARLY LITERACY, AND PARENTING SUPPORT. FAMILIES ALSO RECEIVE ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES SUCH AS DIAPERS, CLOTHING, FOOD, HYGIENE ITEMS, FORMULA, BOOKS, AND LARGER EQUIPMENT INCLUDING CAR SEATS, CRIBS, AND STROLLERS. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES FIVE DAYS PER WEEK AND MAINTAINS STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES, INCLUDING WIC, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND HOME VISITING PROGRAMS, TO CONNECT FAMILIES WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. MCEC ALSO EXTENDS ITS REACH THROUGH DIGITAL COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY- BASED OUTREACH. IN 2025, MOTHER & CHILD SUPPORTED OVER 2,300 INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES REPRESENTING MORE THAN 30 SPOKEN LANGUAGES AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 23,623 ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO HELP MEET BASIC NEEDS AND PROMOTE FAMILY STABILITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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