Mercy Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MERCY PROJECT SEEKS TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN GHANA IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR CHILD SLAVERY. THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON IMPLEMENTING NEW AGRICULTURAL FISHING METHODS IN GHANAIAN VILLAGES, WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR VILLAGERS TO WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO UTILIZE CHILD LABOR. UPON RELEASE OF THE CHILDREN, MERCY PROJECT WORKS TO REINTEGRATE THE FORMER SLAVES WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING EDUCATION.
- Income
- $516,069
- Spending
- $486,450
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $47,917, ceo/founder
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (3)
- $61,659 spent. AQUACULTURE PROJECTS: MERCY PROJECT PROVIDES A VILLAGE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF FISHING CAGES, FISH AND FISH FOOD, AND THE EDUCATION NEEDED TO HARVEST LARGE AMOUNTS OF FISH. THE PURPOSE OF THE FISHING CAGES IS TO ELIMINATE THE VILLAGE'S NEED OF USING CHILD LABOR TO FISH THE LAKE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. EVEN AFTER THE RELEASE OF THE VILLAGE'S CHILD SLAVES, MERCY PROJECT MAINTAINS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VILLAGE TO ASSIST WITH FISH PRODUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITH THE ADDITIONAL INCOME THE FISH CAGES PROVIDE.
- $346,375 spent. CHILD REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION INTO THEIR FAMILIES: UPON A VILLAGE'S RELEASE OF THEIR TRAFFICKED CHILDREN, MERCY PROJECT TRANSPORTS THE CHILDREN TO A SPECIALIZED REHABILITATION SHELTER WHERE THE CHILDREN BEGIN RECEIVING PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. THE CHILDREN LIVE AT THE SHELTER FOR 3-4 MONTHS DURING WHICH THEY BEGIN THEIR FORMAL EDUCATION AND ARE BROUGHT TO FULL HEALTH FROM ANY ONGOING MEDICAL ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN UNTREATED. ONCE READY, THE CHILDREN ARE REUNITED BACK INTO THEIR FAMILIES WHERE THEY AND THEIR PARENTS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT AND EMPOWERMENT FROM MERCY PROJECT'S SOCIAL WORKERS.
- $21,505 spent. MISSIONARY ESTABLISHMENT AND SUPPORT: MERCY PROJECT HAS A COUNTRY DIRECTOR AND A MISSIONARY HOUSE THAT FUNCTIONS AS A HEADQUARTERS FOR ALL MERCY PROJECT WORK ON LAKE VOLTA AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. THEIR ROLE IS CRITICAL IN THE ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS AND PROBLEM SOLVING THAT COMES WITH SUCH A COMPLEX PROCESS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
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.
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.