Mission Graduates
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MISSION GRADUATES (THE ORGANIZATION") IS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT BENEFIT ORGANIZATION THAT EMPOWERS YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES ON THE PATH TO HIGHER EDUCATION, EQUIPPING THEM FOR FULFILLING CAREERS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN GENERATIONS. FOUNDED IN 1972, INITIALLY CALLED ST. JOHN'S EDUCATIONAL THRESHOLD CENTER, MISSION GRADUATES WAS FOUNDED BY A ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH MEMBER AS A TUTORING PROGRAM FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE AN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP. THREE DECADES LATER, THE ORGANIZATION CLARIFIED THEIR COMMITMENT TO GETTING MORE YOUTH INTO COLLEGE AS A MEANS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC EQUITY FOR PRIMARILY LATINO AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES BUT COMMITTED TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED BY THE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY BLACK, FILIPINO, AND ARAB FAMILIES.
- Income
- $13.0 million
- Spending
- $13.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 71%
- Employees
- 225
- Volunteers
- 121
- Highest pay
- $239,348, chief executive officer
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
Fair: 68 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
- $4.3 million spent. BEACON CENTERS: ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO BEACON INITIATIVE AND CITY AND COUNTY FUNDERS TO DEVELOP AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING MODEL THAT MEETS MORE THAN JUST THE ACADEMIC OR SOCIAL NEEDS OF YOUTH AT EVERETT MIDDLE SCHOOL, IT ALSO CREATES A SPACE FOR YOUTH TO DEVELOP INTO LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. BEACON CENTERS HAVE BEEN EXPANDED TO 27 SITES IN SAN FRANCISCO, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATION'S SITES AT BESSIE CARMICHAEL, BRYANT, FLYNN, AND SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THE EXISTING EVERETT BEACON. OVERLAYING THE PROGRAMMING OF THE EXTENDED DAY PROGRAMS, THE BEACON CENTERS IMPLEMENT A COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL APPROACH BY PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE HUB OF SERVICES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND AFTER SCHOOL. THE BEACON CENTERS SERVED 895 YOUTH DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, AND EXPANDED THE LEARNING DAY BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY, PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC INTERVENTIONS BUT ALSO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE FUTURE LEADERS CAN TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR EDUCATION, DEVELOP SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND BEGIN WORKING ON THEIR GOALS OF GRADUATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION.
- $3.3 million spent. EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM (EDP):THE EDP PROVIDES AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER EDUCATION TO ALVARADO, CLEAVELAND, AND MARSHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND THE THOMAS EDISON CHARTER ACADEMY, AND HELPS 875 STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS AND INCREASE LITERACY LEVELS, AS WELL AS SHORE UP ACADEMIC SKILLS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE BELOW GRADE IN SPECIFIC ACADEMIC COMPETENCIES. THE EDP EXTENDS THE LEARNING DAY TO ENSURE STUDENTS CAN TRANSITION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, LITERACY, AND ACADEMIC SKILLS NECESSARY TO EXCEL. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF FIVE CORE COMPONENTS: ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND GUIDED READING INTERVENTIONS; PROJECT-BASED ELECTIVES THAT INCORPORATE LITERACY-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT EACH CYCLE; SPORTS AND RECREATION; COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER GROUP COHESION, BUILD SOCIAL SKILLS, AND MODEL RESILIENCY; AND AN EARLY COLLEGE AWARENESS CURRICULUM THAT PREPARES AND MOTIVATES CHILDREN TO PLAN FOR COLLEGE. THE ORGANIZATION JUST COMPLETED ITS THIRD YEAR AT JUNE JORDAN SCHOOL FOR EQUITY REACHING 89 STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM REACHES THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT STUDENTS' ACADEMIC COMPETENCIES AND COLLEGE ASPIRATIONS, AND ENSURE MORE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE COLLEGE-READY.
- $2.1 million spent. COLLEGE TO CAREER: COLLEGE CONNECT (CC): CC IS A FAMILY-BASED COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS PROGRAM THAT LAUNCHED IN SPRING 2008. CC ANNUALLY RECRUITS 25 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE-BOUND HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS LIVING OR ATTENDING SCHOOL IN THE MISSION AND EXCELSIOR DISTRICTS OF SAN FRANCISCO WHO ARE THE FIRST GENERATION TO ATTEND COLLEGE. CC PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVE SUPPORT WITH ACT PREPARATION, MATH AND ENGLISH TUTORING, PERSONAL STATEMENTS AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION COACHING, OBTAINING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CHOOSING THE BEST COLLEGE THAT MEETS THEIR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC NEEDS, AND SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING TO COLLEGE WITH SUPPORT THROUGH GRADUATION. CURRENTLY, CC HAS 382 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS 17 COHORTS; 252 ARE ALUMNI, 80 ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND 50 ARE HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS. 96% OF CC SENIORS FROM THE CLASS OF 2025 ARE ATTENDING A 4-YEAR COLLEGE THIS FALL, WHICH IS NEARLY THREE TIMES THE CALIFORNIA STATE AVERAGE (29%). 95% OF CC STUDENTS PERSISTED INTO THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR OF COLLEGE IN THE FALL OF 2024. 58% OF STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM GRADUATE WITHIN SIX YEARS OF COLLEGE ENTRY, TWICE THE RATE OF FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS OF 24%. THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ENSURED THAT FINANACES ARE NOT A BARRIER TO COLLEGE. THEIR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ALUMS RAISED OVER $6,637,000 IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND APPLIED FOR ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND SCHOOL FINANCIAL AID. JOHN O'CONNELL COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER (JOCCC): JOCCC IS AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH JOHN O'CONNELL HIGH SCHOOL, TRADITIONALLY CONSIDERED A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, WHERE THE STAFF IS EMBEDDED WITH TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM. BEING IN THE CLASSROOM DURING THE SCHOOL DAY ALLOWS STAFF TO WORK WITH THE ENTIRE SCHOOL POPULATION OF 483, USING THE CONTEXT OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO DISCUSS CAREER AND HIGHER EDUCATION ASPIRATIONS. THIS MODEL PROVIDES A MORE INTEGRATED AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ASSISTING STUDENTS WITH THEIR FUTURE GOALS, AS OPPOSED TO A SEPARATE COLLEGE AND CAREER OFFICE THAT FEW STUDENTS UTILIZE. 88% OF THE GRADUATING JOCCC SENIORS WERE ACCEPTED INTO 2- AND 4-YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.MISSION COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAM (MCCP): MISSION COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAM IS LOCATED ON THE MISSION HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS AND PROVIDES COLLEGE ACCESS PERSISTENCE PROGRAMMING TO THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY. STAFF PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO 421 STUDENTS IN WRITING PERSONAL STATEMENTS, COMPLETING COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, SUBMITTING SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS, AND ENSURING STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO COLLEGE. IN-CLASS SUPPORT OCCURS THROUGH ADVANCEMENT VIA INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION (AVID), A COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN THE "ACADEMIC MIDDLE". FURTHER, MCCP PROVIDES COLLEGE EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CAMPUS VISITS AND SUMMER RESIDENTIAL ACADEMIC/LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
- $623,559 spent. PARENT PARTNER PROGRAM:THE PARENT PARTNER PROGRAM INCREASES LATINO AND IMMIGRANT YOUTH'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND COLLEGE PROSPECTS BY NURTURING A STRONG CULTURE OF PARENT ENGAGEMENT TO 818 PARENTS ACROSS 14 SCHOOL SITES. THIS PROGRAM COMPLEMENTS THE ORANIZATION'S OTHER CORE PROGRAMS, ENSURING THAT PARENTS UNDERSTAND THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, HOW THEY CAN BE PARTNERS IN SUPPORTING THEIR CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC GROWTH AND COLLEGE DREAMS, AND HOW TO ADVOCATE BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S NEEDS. THE PARENT PARTNER PROGRAM PROVIDES PARENTS WITH TECHNOLOGY MENTORSHIP, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE COURSES, ENGLISH LEARNER ADVISORY COMMITTEE COACHING AND ADVOCACY PREPARATION, PARENT SUCCESS WORKSHOPS, GENERAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTING SUPPORT, AND SCHOOL-WIDE MEETING AND PLANNING PREPARATION.
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 April 1972.
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.
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.