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Mbeya

EIN 27-1267643 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong92 out of 100GovernanceFair51 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MBEYA IS A CHRISTIAN, RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT EXISTS TO EQUIP CHURCH LEADERS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF MALAWI THROUGH THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL OUTREACH

Income
$231,862
Spending
$228,235
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
28.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$90,937, chief executive

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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (international, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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. $60,820 spent. Operation and Staffing of Zola Zola Community Center in Malawi: Mbeya continued the operation and staffing of Zola Zola Community Center. We had four full-time Malawian staff living at the center. Mbeya provided school fees, meals and boarding fees for ten youths from the community. Mbeya provided six youth camping/retreats throughout the year, and provided scholarships for students unable to afford the fees. With students from the Bible College, we continued offering classes at the center and evangelism programs in the community. Youth and children's programs, such as drama clubs, choirs, dance clubs and community outreaches reached people in the thousands. Special Christmas, Easter and Mothers Day programs reached community members in the thousands.
  2. $57,955 spent. Operation and Staffing of Bethel Bible College (BBC) in Mzuzu, Malawi. The Bible College offers theological courses for interested indivduals in the northern region of Malawi. The main Mzuzu campus as well as our off-site Msongwe site were staffed and maintained with a year-round presence of students, staff, teachers, outreach programs, and our ongoing partnership with Zola Zola Community Center. The Bible College campus serves as the Malawian office for Mbeya, with two full-time staff in 2024 residing on the premises. Impact from the Bible College includes 16 students, 2 interns, 15 part-time youths, and hundreds of program beneficiaries in the community.
  3. $62,941 spent. Tekero Retreat Center. We continued offering retreats at the rural retreat/outreach center in Tekero as well as the undertaking of some major building projects at the center, including new housing dorms, bath/toilet blocks, security perimeters, increased flood controls, solar installation and a short-term, shallow borehole. Local impact is felt in the way of jobs provided. Primary impact is for urban youths from Zola Zola who attend the youth retreats. Secondary impact is for students of the Bible college who run the programs, plan the events, and teach the classes for the retreats
  4. $4,469 spent. Msongwe Annex to the Bible College. No new construction projects or ministry programs were undertaken at the site, but general security, water, electricity and groundskeeping to keep the property secure and maintained for future use.

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

  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 December 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 April 2010.

    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.