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Kino Border Initiative Inc

EIN 26-3623357 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTE HUMANE, JUST, AND WORKABLE MIGRATION THROUGH: DIRECT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND HOLISTIC ACCOMPANIMENT OF MIGRANTS; EDUCATION AND ENCOUNTER BETWEEN MIGRANTS AND OTHERS THAT TRANSFORMS PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TOWARDS SOLIDARITY WITH MIGRANTS; POLICY ADVOCACY IN MEXICO AND THE US.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
31.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
12
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$118,701, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND HOLISTIC ACCOMPANIMENT: THE KINO BORDER INITIATIVE MEETS MIGRANTS' BASIC NEEDS WHEN THEY ARE IN NOGALES, SONORA, INCLUDING PROVIDING FOOD, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER TO MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. KBI ALSO PROVIDES HOLISTIC SUPPORT IN ITS ACCOMPANIMENT OF MIGRANTS, INCLUDING EMPOWERMENT, SUPPORT NAVIGATING LOCAL RESOURCES, JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE.
  2. $342,069 spent. EDUCATION: THE KINO BORDER INITIATIVE CREATES SPACES OF ENCOUNTER BETWEEN MIGRANTS AND OTHERS THAT TRANSFOMS PEOPEL AND COMMUNITIES TOWARDS SOLIDARITY WITH MIGRANTS. THAT EDUCATION WORK INCLUDES WELCOMING DOWN PARISHES AND SCHOOLS FOR IMMERSION EXPERIENCES, GIVING PRESENTATIONS TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE US AND MEXICO AND WORKING WITH MIGRANTS TO SHARE THEIR TESTIMONIES WITH A BROADER PUBLIC IN DIFFERENT MEDIA FORMS.
  3. $168,796 spent. ADVOCACY: THE KINO BORDER INITIATIVE WORKS TO ADVANCE HUMANE, JUST AND WORKABLE MIGRATION AND BORDER POLICY. IT DOES SO THROUGH BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH DECISION MAKERS IN THE US AND MEXICO, PROVIDING THEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LISTEN TO AND GROW IN EMPATHY WITH MIGRANTS AT THE BORDER, SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT THE WAYS THAT POLICIES HARM THE MIGRANT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NOGALES, SONORA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 December 2024.

    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 March 1946.

    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 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.