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Childrens Mission

EIN 26-0558044 · Redwood City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF 'THE CHILDREN'S MISSION' IS TO (1) EDUCATE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PHYSICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN MALAWI, AFRICA; (2) RAISE FUNDS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS; AND (3) ESTABLISH AND OPERATE LOCAL CENTERS TO ASSIST IN MEETING THOSE NEEDS.

Income
$502,446
Spending
$424,579
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$41,665, u.s. director

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 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 (2)
  1. $303,777 spent. DURING THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR, THE CHILDREN'S MISSION FOCUS WAS SUPPORTING THE WORK BEING DONE IN MALAWI, AFRICA BY MBWANA CHILDREN'S MISSION BY SPREADING AWARENESS, RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMMING. HERE ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM: 1)SINCE 2007 MBWANA CHILDREN'S MISSION HAS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 300 ORPHANED AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN WITH AN ACTIVE ROSTER OF 160 - CHILDREN AGES 3 - 27 DURING THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR. AT THE START, 3 FRESH WATER WELLS WERE ESTABLISHED PROVIDING WATER ACCESS FOR OVER 1000 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO DATE OVER 900,000 MEALS HAVE BEEN SERVED. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)TODAY, EVERY CHILD RECEIVES BREAKFAST AND LUNCH 5 DAYS A WEEK. MEDICAL SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE CHILDREN AND THEIR GUARDIANS FROM ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT, PREVENTION TO HOSPITAL STAYS. THE ONSITE PRIMARY SCHOOL, MCM ACADEMY HAS 120 CHILDREN PRE-K - STD 8 (OF WHICH 93 ARE MCM CHILDREN AND THE OTHERS ATTEND DAILY FROM A LOCAL ORPHANAGE MALO A MCHEREZO), 1 CHILD BOARDS FULL TIME AT AQUAID LIFE LINE PRIMARY SCHOOL, 53 CHILDREN ATTEND SECONDARY SCHOOL, 1 CHILD HAS AN APPRENTICESHIP, 10 AT TECHNICAL COLLEGES/ TRADE SCHOOLS AND 2 IN UNIVERSITY. THE PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE "WHOLE CHILD AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FUTURE OF INDEPENDENCE BEYOND POVERTY. MCM IS NOT AN ORPHANAGE MODEL SO THE CHILDREN LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH FAMILY OR GUARDIANS. 2)AGAIN THIS YEAR $50K WAS CONTRIBUTED BY ONE FAMILY TOWARDS ALL TERTIARY PROGRAMS AND THE ON-SITE INFORMAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2022. YOUNG ADULTS FROM THE COMMUNITY WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE INCLUDING THOSE WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY A PART OF MCM.THIS FISCAL YEAR THERE WAS FULL CLASS OF 15 FOR TAILORING AND 4 FOR HAIRDRESSING WHO GRADUATED IN DECEMBER 2024. THE THIRD COHORT STARTED IN JANUARY 2025 WITH 15 IN TAILORING AND 14 IN HAIRDRESSING. 3)A HIGHLIGHT FOR THE YEAR WAS A PARTNERSHIP STARTED BY HOWARD HIBBS, US CITIZEN WHO VISITED MCM IN JUNE 2023, WITH TIYENI A MALAWIAN BASED ORGANIZATION. IN COLLABORATION WITH MCM, TIYENI TAUGHT DEEP BED FARMING TECHNIQUES TO 15 FARMERS (5 FROM EACH OF THE SURROUNDING VILLAGES) TO HELP THEM EFFICIENTLY HARVEST MORE FOOD.
  2. $31,860 spent. THE MBWANA CHILDREN'S MISSION YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE AND ORPHAN SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM COORDINATOR CONTINUED HER STUDIES IN THE U.S. TO ATTEND A 2 YEAR MASTER'S IN SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM AT BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK. SHE RECEIVED A FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP AND IS BEING SPONSORED FOR ALL OTHER EXPENSES. UPON GRADUATION IN MAY 2025, SHE WILL RETURN TO MALAWI TO CONTINUE HER WORK AT THE CENTER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 November 2007.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Childrens Hospital at Mission (Orange, CA), EIN 33-0528802. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.