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Passes our checks

Centronia

EIN 25-1689720 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, AND CULTURAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN IN A BILINGUAL, MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$24.0 million
Spending
$24.2 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
323
Volunteers
245
Highest pay
$319,318, 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (4)
  1. $18.4 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - CENTRONIA SERVES LOW-INCOME, WORKING FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN BY PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE FOR CHILDREN AGED 0-5 THAT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR SCHOOL READINESS. OUR MODEL INCLUDES HOME VISITING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS FULL-DAY, CENTER-BASED EDUCATION AND CARE IN A DUAL-LANGUAGE, MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT. OUR HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS TAKE A WHOLE-CHILD APPROACH, OFFERING DEVELOPMENTALLY-APPROPRIATE PHYSICAL, SOCIO-EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE EXPERIENCES COMPLEMENTED BY DRAMATIC PLAY; ACTIVITIES RELATED TO MUSIC, GARDENING AND SCIENCE; HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION; AND DIVERSE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. TEACHERS CONDUCT ONGOING FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS AND INDIVIDUALIZE LESSON PLANNING TO MAXIMIZE EACH CHILD'S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTE THEIR FUTURE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND WELLBEING.
  2. $1.6 million spent. CENTRONIA'S FOOD AND WELLNESS DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS THE COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY LEARNERS THROUGH THE PREPARATION OF NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED MEALS AND PROMOTES LIFELONG HEALTHY HABITS THAT CAN DECREASE YOUNG CHILDREN'S CHANCES OF DEVELOPING HEALTH PROBLEMS LATER IN LIFE. IN ADDITION TO MEAL PREPARATION, FOOD AND WELLNESS STAFF SUPPORT EDUCATORS IN ALIGNING CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES WITH HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOPICS, PROMOTE FAMILIAL WELLBEING THROUGH NUTRITIONAL WORKSHOPS AND COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS FOR FAMILIES, AND INCREASE FAMILIES PERCEIVED AND ACTUAL ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS.
  3. $967,195 spent. CENTRONIA'S PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ARM, CENTRONIA INSTITUTE, FILTERS THE LATEST RESEARCH ON PEDAGOGY AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT INTO CLASSROOM-LEVEL PRACTICE THROUGH COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CYCLES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THEIR ABILITY TO SUSTAIN QUALITY TEACHER-CHILD INTERACTION AND TO CREATE A STIMULATING AND CONTENT-RICH EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN THROUGH INTENTIONAL PLANNING, DOCUMENTATION, ASSESSMENT AND REFLECTIVE PRACTICES. ADDITIONAL AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION, EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS, AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTS. THE INSTITUTE ALSO OFFERS A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PROSPECTIVE EDUCATORS TO OBTAIN A CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE (CDA) CREDENTIAL IN INFANT/TODDLER OR PRESCHOOL ENDORSEMENTS WITH A BILINGUAL SPECIALIZATION.
  4. $682,798 spent. CENTRONIA'S FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY. THESE INCLUDE AN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM PROVIDING CHILDREN FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE WITH ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS AND THE ARTS, IN A SAFE, STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT. CENTRONIA ALSO PROVIDES SIGNIFICIANT COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES BOTH IN-HOUSE AND THROUGH NETWORKED PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THIS ALLOWS CENTRONIA TO PARTNER WITH PARENTS TO INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT; BOOST PARENTAL RESILIENCE THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS; AND SERVE AS A TRUSTED RESOURCE LINKING PARENTS TO SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.

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 December 1992.

    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.