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Passes our checks

Common Grace

EIN 30-0110074 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceWeak43 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Common Grace provides mentors to vulnerable children in Hawaii Public Schools by matching them with caring, dedicated and trained mentors.

Income
$570,202
Spending
$390,888
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 39%
Employees
6
Volunteers
250

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 121% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (3)
  1. $390,888 spent. COMMON GRACE FACILITATES RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL CHURCHES AND NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. A TOTAL NUMBER OF ABOUT 4,600 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HELPED BY 2003 BY MATCHING THE CHILDREN WITH MENTORS FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH. OUT MENTORS COMMIT TO MEETING WITH THEIR STUDENTS FOR ONE HOUR, ONCE A WEEK, ON THEIR SCHOOL CAMPUS. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS FACE CHALLENGES SUCH AS BROKEN HOMES, NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING FAMILIES, INCARCERATED PARENTS, AND EVEN HOMELESSNESS. MANY ARE SIMPLY NEGLECTED BY PEERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE CHILDREN SELECTED BY THE SCHOOLS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE BEHAVIORAL OR ACADEMIC PROBLEMS; SOMETIMES THEY JUST NEED THE PERSONAL ATTENTION THAN AN ADULT MENTOR CAN PROVIDE.
  2. MALAMA MENTORS PARTNERS EXCEPTIONAL JUNIORS AND SENIORS IN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL WITH DISADVANTED KIDS IN A NEARBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HIGH SCHOOL MENTORS WHO ARE CHOSEN FOR MALAMA MENTORS DEMONSTRATE EXCELLENCE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY AND IN THE COMMUNITY. STUDENTS ARE INTERVIEWED AND HANDPICKED BY TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS. ONCE TRAINED, THESE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE CAREFULLY MATCHED WITH A CHILD IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SPEND AN HOUR A WEEK WITH THEM GIVING THEIR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.
  3. THROUGH FUNDRAISING COMMON GRACE IS ABLE TO SEEK AND GATHER VOLUNTARY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO FACILITATE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL CHURCH VOLUNTEERS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. COMMON GRACE SEEKS TO USE IMAGINATIVE, FUN AND HELPFUL INVOLVEMENT WITH KIDS TO BUILD A STRONGER FUTURE FOR OUR WIDER COMMUNITY.

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 January 2003.

    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.

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