Alturas Ministries Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SUPPORT OF CHRISTIAN MISSION PROGRAM IN COSTA RICA.
- Income
- $260,639
- Spending
- $213,464
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $14,000, director
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% 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: 31 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 9 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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 (1)
- $213,464 spent. Alturas is a Christian mission in San Jose, Costa Rica and is heavily supported by Germantown United Methodist Church, its members, and other members of the public. It was started by Amy Speake, a member of GUMC, a number of years ago on a part time basis. In 2019,she moved to full time work on it and Alturas was set up as a 501 c (3) to assist in funding and supporting the ministry. It has a Board consisting primarily of individual church members who support it not only financially, but with planning and publicizing it in the church and community. The big thrust is that it provides classroom learning one day per week for 68 students in the slums of San Jose. This is to supplement the classroom learning they receive in public schools for 3 days a week. They are also fed two meals when in the program. Additionally Amy spends the rest of her time ministering to over 400 women living in the slums with Bible studies, counseling, job skills training and worship. IN DECEMBER 2025, three youth grauated high school bringing the total to eleven. Three have qualified to attend the university. Almost all are gainfully employed.Alturas Key Outcomes for 2025Our 3rd male High school graduate for a total of 11 youth in last four years9 sixth grade graduates and 2 ninth grade graduatesserved nearly 10,000 meals last yearone of our 9th grade graduates had best grade average in her class of 200 and was accepted into special school for the giftedHad 68 kids who have continued growth in academics, nutrition, social skills, and Christian valuescontinued English individualized tutoring for 6th grade through high school students in over nine subject areas so they could pass required comprehensive exams to continue their education.continued womens programs benefitting over 68 women in employable skills such as sewingcontinued paying for school uniforms and school supplies for all 68 students
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 June 2011.
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.