Matt Clayton Ministriesinternational Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Project Playground receives playgrounds due for demolition in the US and restores, repairs and replants those playgrounds in impoverished communities throughout the developing world.
- Income
- $261,101
- Spending
- $271,447
- Spent on programs
- 48%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 97
- Highest pay
- $70,017, employee
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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1548% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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 (4)
- $27,468 spent. Project Playground built 10 playgrounds, impacting over 4000 kids in 7 schools, and 1 church. Construction areas included Botswana, Guatemala, Kenya, Zambia and Liberia. (Includes cost for travel, lodging, food, and equipment rental internationally).
- $70,976 spent. Playground Take Down & Repair. PP took down 23 playgrounds, saving municipalities thousands to remove these structures. PP repaired broken pieces, purchased replacement parts, and prepared 13 playgrounds for shipment. (Includes costs for food, transportation and heavy equipment maintenance).
- $30,246 spent. Shipping Playgrounds. Project Playground paid shipping and customs charges to send 2 playgrounds to very impoverished and underserved schools in Liberia, impacting 250 children. (Also includes cost for supplies purchased for use in building the playgrounds and food consumed during loading)
- $593 spent. Training seminars in Guatemala and Botswana. Trained children's leaders in Botswana on how to utilize the playground to host children's events, maintain safety on the playground, how to use it in an age-appropriate manner and how to utilize it for mixed age play.
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 November 6, 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 August 2008.
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 November 4, 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.