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Mesa-Outreach Inc

EIN 27-1022537 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MESA-OUTREACH, INC. IS DEDICATED TO FOSTERING A NOURISHED AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITY IN NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY. THROUGH COMPASSIONATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND REFERRALS TO OTHER VITAL SERVICES, WE STRIVE TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER, PROMOTE EDUCATION, AND UPLIFT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. OUR MISSION IS TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS ON THE ROAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY, WHILE FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND DIGNITY FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
6
Volunteers
904

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. BASIC NEEDS:FOOD PANTRYSHELF-STABLE FOODS, FROZEN MEATS & REFRIGERATED ITEMS FOR THOSE WITH EMERGENCY NEEDS FOOD ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TWICE A MONTH TO AREA RESIDENTS. EACH FAMILY IN NEED RECEIVES A 55# BAG OF SHELF STABLE FOOD ITEMS, BREAD/PASTRIES, FROZEN MEATS, DRINKS, AND PRODUCE FOR THEIR FAMILY. MESA'S FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTIONS CONTINUED WITH THE DRIVE THROUGH SYSTEM OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION. WITH THIS DRIVE THROUGH SYSTEM, MESA'S FOOD PANTRY AND THE DEDICATED GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WERE ABLE TO SERVE THE EVER-INCREASING NUMBER OF CLIENTS AS MESA CONTINUED TO MEET THEIR FOOD NEEDS. DURING 2024:FAMILIES (INDIVIDUALS) SERVED: 7,330POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED: 447,681POUNDS OF FOOD DONATED: 410,134POUNDS OF FOOD PURCHASED: 19,677VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED: 6,544PRODUCE TRUCKPERISHABLES FOR THOSE WITH EMERGENCY NEEDS PERISHABLE FOOD ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED MONTHLY TO AREA RESIDENTS. EACH FAMILY IN NEED RECEIVES A VARIETY OF PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS FOR THEIR FAMILY. DURING 2024:FAMILIES (INDIVIDUALS) SERVED: 3,156POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED: 107,477POUNDS OF FOOD DONATED: 107,477VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED: 2,281TOTAL FOOD PANTRY & PRODUCE TRUCK DISTRIBUTIONS: 9,418 FAMILY VISITS, REPRESENTING 29,102, INDIVIDUALS. UNDUPLICATED FAMILIES (INDIVIDUALS): 2,298 (9,012) STUFF THE BUSSCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR KIDS IN NEEDSCHOOL SUPPLIES ARE PROVIDED ANNUALLY TO AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS IN NEED. SINCE THE PANDEMIC, MESA REACHED OUT TO AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: BEAR CREEK (KATY ISD), SCHMALZ (KATY ISD), WOLFE (KATY ISD), HORNE (CYFAIR ISD), LIEDER (CYFAIR ISD) AND HARMONY SCHOOL OF ACHIEVEMENT TO DISTRIBUTE SCHOOL SUPPLY PACKETS BY GRADE TO THEIR STUDENTS WITH THE GREATEST NEEDS. THE 850 SCHOOL SUPPLY PACKETS, PLUS BACKPACKS-52, HAND SANITIZERS-454, KLEENEX-151, MDA DRAWSTRING BAGS-300, AND INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED SNACKS-3550 WERE DELIVERED TO THESE SIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR THE COUNSELORS TO DISTRIBUTE TO THEIR NEEDIEST STUDENTS.SCHOOL SUPPLY PACKS DISTRIBUTED: 850SCHOOL SUPPLY PACKS PURCHASED: 850VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED: 122SHARE THE TABLEHOLIDAY FOOD BOXES, HEB GROCERY GIFT CARDS, CHILDREN'S BOOKS, COATS AND JACKETS WERE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON ON THE 2ND SATURDAY IN NOVEMBER. THESE HOLIDAY FOOD BOXES ARE GIVEN OUT ANNUALLY BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS TO AREA RESIDENTS IN NEED. THE HOLIDAY FOOD ITEMS INCLUDE BOXED POTATOES, VEGETABLES, FRUIT, CAKE MIX, ETC. AND A $10 GROCERY GIFT CARD. THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO HOLD AN IN-PERSON EVENT WHERE THE HOLIDAY FOOD BOXES WERE DISTRIBUTED, AND FAMILIES SELECTED CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND COATS AT MESA'S SHARE THE TABLE EVENT IN NOVEMBER:FAMILIES (INDIVIDUALS) SERVED: 232 (1,159)HOLIDAY FOOD BOXES & GIFT CARDS DISTRIBUTED: 232POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED: 9,280CHILDREN'S BOOKS DISTRIBUTED: 497CHILDREN'S COATS AND JACKETS DISTRIBUTED: 177VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED: 261SHARE YOUR HOLIDAYIN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK AND THEIR SHARE YOUR HOLIDAY PROGRAM MESA-OUTREACH PARTICIPATED AS ONE OF THEIR SITES TO DISTRIBUTE 248 HOLIDAY FOOD BOXES TO NEEDY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN OUR AREA IN DECEMBER.FAMILIES (INDIVIDUALS) SERVED: 248 (1,240)VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED: 60 HOURSSCHOLARSHIPSFINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PACESETTERS IN NEED - $1,000 PER YEAR UP TO 4 YEARSBEGINNING IN 2016, A FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS INITIATED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WHO HAD DEMONSTRATED THE QUALIFICATIONS AND DESIRE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, SHOWN A DEDICATION TO HELPING OTHERS AND WAS IN NEED OF SUCH ASSISTANCE. DURING 2024:NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED: 2NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDED: 4VOLUNTEER HOURS DONATED: 20
  2. BOOKS TO KIDS:ENCOURAGING KIDS TO READ WITH BOOKS THEY CAN CALL THEIR OWNMESA PROVIDES FREE BOOKS TO CHILDREN 4 - 10 YEARS OLD, WHO ARE EDUCATIONALLY AT RISK. PROJECT GOAL: ALL CHILDREN WANT AND NEED A HOME LIBRARY. BOOKS ARE DISTRIBUTED AT SPECIAL EVENTS DURING THE YEAR.DURING 2024: BOOKS DISTRIBUTED AT EASTER: 0 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED AT SHARE THE TABLE: 664

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 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 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 July 2010.

    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.

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.