Casa Chirilagua
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Casa Chirilagua develops relationships with families to see the Chirilagua neighborhood transformed by Christ. Casa Chirilagua builds relationships with neighbors to develop youth, strengthen families, equip leaders, and engage the community to participate in holistic transformation.
- Income
- $694,070
- Spending
- $935,871
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 149
- Highest pay
- $115,000, executive 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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (6)
- $159,130 spent. Elementary Programs - From January to June of 2025, Kids Club offered in-person afterschool programming for students in grades 1st through 5th, providing academic support and extracurricular activities three times per week. A total of 37 students were enrolled in the program, benefiting from structured, personalized learning experiences designed to meet their academic and emotional development needs. The core academic support provided to students included reading and math tutoring three times a week, with a focus on helping students improve in areas where they faced learning deficits. In addition to these academic sessions, social-emotional development was an integral part of the program. Students engage in social-emotional learning (SEL) activities twice a week, equipping them with essential skills for managing emotions, building healthy relationships, and making responsible decisions. Kids Club also prioritized physical activity and creativity by offering a variety of activities such as physical movement, arts, dance, and team-building exercises. Kids Club is able to have Inspira Dance Partner with our students to teach them break dancing classes once a week. HEARD Nova also partnered with us to lead the Kids in visual arts and craft learning once a week. These activities were designed to foster both physical health and social interaction, contributing to the holistic development of each student. In the spring of 2025, there were multiple field trips. These outings helped expose students to new environments and learning opportunities, complementing the program's academic and enrichment activities. During the summer months, from June 30th to July 18th, 2025, Kids Club hosted its STEM Code Rising Summer Camp, which operated five days a week. 25 students participated in the camp, where they engaged in hands-on learning focused on coding and media skills. The camp aimed to nurture curiosity, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking. As part of our summer camp, we provided weekly field trips on Fridays. These trips provided students with immersive learning experiences and exposure to exciting career possibilities, including Amazon headquarters. These visits allowed students to witness real-world applications of STEM concepts, inspiring them to think about their futures and the broad range of career paths available to them. In the second half of 2025, from August to December, the Kids Club program continued to offer in-person afterschool sessions, with 32 students enrolled three days per week. The fall programming continued a comprehensive approach to student development, combining academic support, physical activity and movement activities as well as social and emotional learning. We also launched a new curriculum, Cultured Kids, which builds social and emotional learning skills. In the Fall, students engaged in the Identity and Empathy Units, including activities such as interactive read aloud, role plays, and creative art projects. A key component of the programming was Bible-based character development lessons which aligned with the Cultured Kids Units. Students explored and acted out bible stories to better understand Christian identity in and how we are called as Christians to live with empathy.
- $136,420 spent. Youth Programs - Teens Club is a program offered to create a safe environment for middle school youth to develop stronger academic, social, and leadership skills. From January to May 2025, the middle school after school program, Teens Club, was offered to 20 students in 6th-8th grade. Twice a week, the students were welcomed to Casa Chirilagua for Teens Club on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for structured activities. This weekly session for 1.5 hours would include a study hall, community building games and choice time activities. Throughout all three of these components, the students participated in physical activities, received homework help, and participated in projects to discover their interests and strengths. Some of the choice time activities included gardening, chess, art, board/card games, and soccer. We brought in teachers, volunteers, partners, or staff to lead each component. From June 30th- July 18th, 12 students enrolled in our summer program meeting for 3 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with 4-hour meetings on Fridays for field trips. We partnered with the organization Code Rising who provided STEM related learning opportunities. On the 25th of July we had 5 middle and high schoolers attend a kayaking excursion with the Four Mile Run Conservancy. From September to December 2025, Teens Club started again with the school year, being offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30p-5:30p. The program had 25 students enrolled. During their program time frame included community building, academic support and a weekly book club meeting with the book The First Rule of Punk by Celia Perez using curriculum from Cultured Kids. Book club incorporated faith-based elements and there were bi-weekly Bible studies on book club "off" days. The book club supported students in reading comprehension, vocabulary, personal reflection, artistic expression, and Social Emotional Learning. The Cultured Kids curriculum was centered around 4 pillars of Identity, Empathy, Belonging, and Global Citizenship. Study hall followed book club with structured time to complete homework or grade level academic work and check in with adults on school related challenges (e.g. specific classes or communication with teachers). In the Fall, Casa Chirilagua partnered with Code Rising for 6 weeks to provide STEM programming with brief lessons and hands on activities facilitated by Dominion Energy and Titan Robotics. This occurred on Thursdays from 4:30-5:30. Casa to Career is a program created for high school students to build an awareness of post-high school pathways and access support to discovering and pursuing post-high school goals for college and career. From January to June 2025, Casa to Career was offered to 12 students in 9th-12th grade on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30pm-7:00pm. Once a week, the students come for structured activities. These weekly sessions for 1.5 hours include academic support, group community building games, and participation in large and small group Bible studies. Throughout all three of these components, the students participated in dynamic icebreakers, received homework help, and participated in activities to understand what options they have for their future. We finished the school year with a fun field trip to laser tag and a closing Bible study in Crystal City over a shared meal. From June 30th- July 18th, 9 high school students enrolled in our summer program meeting for 3 hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with 4-hour meetings on Fridays for field trips. We partnered with the organization Code Rising who provided STEM related learning opportunities. The high schoolers received a learning stipend and MacBook to keep after their 3 weeks of co-working, resume building, coding, career panels/discussions, communications projects, and culminating environment-based project commissioned by the City of Alexandria. From September to December 2025, Tuesday and Thursday night programming was offered to the 20 students enrolled in Casa to Career for the 2024-2025 school year. Casa to Career was offered twice a week from 5:30pm-7:15pm for 1.75 hours. On Tuesday evenings students came for structured activities including community building time, homework tutoring and sessions for students based on their career interests, which included guest speakers and workshops. On Thursday evenings, students came for small group Bible studies led by staff and volunteers with a homework tutoring element in the second half of the evening. The Bible studies followed our Cultured Kids themes of Identity, Empathy, Belonging, and Global Citizenship using the book Three Big Questions That Shape Your Future by Kara Powell, Kristel Acevedo, and Brad M. Griffin. Casa Chirilagua also partnered with Move2Learn for a couple of Boxercise sessions and one field trip to tour the D.C. United offices, field, and engage in a career panel with D.C. United staff.
- $128,892 spent. Parent Engagement & Community Partnerships - In 2025, Casa Chirilagua hosted a series of Parent Meetings followed by Family Dinners, designed to inform families about available resources, upcoming events, and other important community information. These gatherings also featured presentations on a variety of topics related to human and spiritual development. A total of 8 meetings were held at the community center, creating opportunities for family engagement, strengthening connections, and fostering empowerment among both parents and children. Throughout 2025, Casa Chirilagua alongside the Casa Chirilagua Parent Committee organized a variety of activities to promote unity and strengthen community ties. These events included: (1)Christmas Celebration (December 2025): The committee led a successful fundraising effort to provide food for all families during the holiday season. (2) Graduation Party (June 2025): The committee played a key role in organizing a celebration for students promoted from elementary school, middle school, and high school, recognizing their achievements. (3) Pool Day (July 2025): The committee coordinated and supported a memorable pool day for families. (4) Fundraising Events: The Parent Committee organized three key fundraising events: a Yard Sale, Tarde Típica, and a Christmas Raffle, which helped support various community programs. (5) Farm Trip Support (October 2025): The committee contributed financially by covering part of the transportation costs for the farm trip, ensuring all students could participate. (6) Casa Anniversary Celebration (April 2025): Casa Chirilagua organized a Casa-versary to Celebrate 19 year of being in the neighborhood. These activities fostered a strong sense of community and played an essential role in supporting Casa Chirilagua's mission. Other Community Activities & Partnerships - (1) Edu-Futuro - In 2025, Casa Chirilagua and Edu-Futuro formed a collaborative partnership to better serve our community. Casa Chirilagua generously provided space for Edu-Futuro to offer adult education classes primarily aimed at Casa Chirilagua parents. These classes focused on family strengthening through a series of workshops. During the year, Edu-Futuro offered three key modules: Participa en mi Educacion, Fortaleciendo Familias, and Padres Comprometidos. Each module serves 10 participants. (2) Partnership Mount Vernon Community School (MVCS) - Parent Teacher Association (PTA) - In 2025, Casa Chirilagua established a partnership with Mount Vernon Community School (MVCS) and its Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to strengthen family engagement in education. MVCS and the PTA hosted two meetings at Casa Chirilagua, bringing together between 20 and 30 parents for discussions and community building. Additionally, the partnership provided English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for MVCS parents who are also part of the Casa Chirilagua community. These classes offered valuable language support, with an average of 20 students attending regularly, empowering parents to better support their children's education and integrate more fully into the community. (3) Partnership with Children's Alexandria Center - In 2025, Casa Chirilagua partnered with the Children's Alexandria Center to support local families. Every week, the center hosts a playgroup for mothers and toddlers, providing a space for socialization and early childhood development. Approximately 15 children and their parents participate in these weekly sessions, which foster a sense of community and create opportunities for parents to connect while supporting their children's growth. (4) Northern Virginia Family Services - In partnership with Northern Virginia Family Services, Casa Chirilagua hosted a 16-session prenatal support group. Participants received access to doulas and mental health support, helping expectant mothers navigate pregnancy with increased stability and care. (5) Alexandria City Highschool - Casa Chirilagua collaborated with Alexandria City High School to develop and offer parenting classes aimed at strengthening family dynamics and supporting student success. (6) City of Alexandria Health Department - Through the Health Equity program of the City of Alexandria Health Department, a service navigator was available at Casa Chirilagua once per month (six visits total), providing approximately two hours per visit of direct support. The navigator assisted individuals in accessing and navigating health and social services. (7) Anne Lipnick Center - Casa Chirilagua partnered with Anne Lipnick Center to offer three sessions supporting parents of children with disabilities, providing guidance, resources, and connection to specialized services. (8) Housing Alexandria - In partnership with Housing Alexandria, Casa hosted two "Rent Ready" sessions, equipping families with knowledge and tools to access and maintain stable housing.
- $59,023 spent. Mentoring - Casa Chirilagua's Mentoring Program is continually expanding and creating more quality based mentorships. From January to December 2025, 8 new mentors were added to the program. The Mentoring Program had a total of 34 active participants in the year 2025. At the end of 2025, it was estimated that mentors contributed over 2,830 hours of service in the fiscal year. Additionally, the Mentoring Program held a 70% retention rate among mentorships by the end of 2025. Mentors were able to dive deeper in their relationships with mentees and other mentors in the program.
- $3,144 spent. Local Leaders - From January to August 2025, the Local Leader program employed three Local Leaders who played a pivotal role in supporting students across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Throughout the year, Local Leaders provided academic and emotional support to students in Kids Club, Teens Club, and Casa to Career. Their responsibilities included overseeing volunteers, organizing homework tutoring sessions and academic activities, planning Bible Study lessons, leading field trips, and creating content to expose students to new hobbies as well as college and career opportunities. In Fall 2025, Local Leaders continued to support all three youth programs. They also participated in team retreats and workshops to help them grow professionally.
- $24,586 spent. Volunteers - Volunteer engagement is a program that encompasses all organizational volunteers (excluding mentor volunteers) which offers the opportunity for new individuals and organizations to learn about Casa, connect to the programs and serve at Casa Chirilagua. Volunteer engagement spans a breadth of activities with the goal of building new relationships with Casa. This includes volunteer training and appreciation events, networking activities with current or new church/organization partners, and a college summer internship program. 2025 saw continued growth in volunteer numbers and updates to our onboarding and training systems. In 2025, Casa had 149 volunteers to support the community during 1995 hours of volunteering. There were 149 volunteers; the breakdown was 19 in Kids Club, 2 in Teens Club, 10 in Casa to Career. 6 out of the 149 only participated in summer programs. 112 out of the 149 were less regular and attended one-time community events, or once a month for family dinners. In 2025, we have 5 board members who contributed 47 volunteer hours through board meetings and committee responsibilities.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2011.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.