Salt and Light NFP
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SHARING THE LOVE OF GOD BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY TO EQUIP THEMSELVES WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES.
- Income
- $5.1 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- -3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 72
- Volunteers
- 1,322
- Highest pay
- $82,837, executive director
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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 80% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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, 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)
- $889,853 spent. FOOD PANTRY: A MEMBERSHIP-BASED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEIR SKILLS, TALENTS, GIFTS, AND ABILITIES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
- $3.5 million spent. THRIFT STORE: THE STORE SERVES FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH CHRONIC FOOD SECURITY ISSUES AS WELL AS OTHER HOUSEHOLD NEEDS. ALL AREAS OF THE STORE ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. THE VOLUNTEER ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM ALSO CREATES MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
- $218,983 spent. EDUCATION: THROUGH THE NINE-WEEK FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY (FPU), AND THE TWELVE-WEEK FAITH AND FINANCE PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TOOLS THAT WILL HELP THEM TO THINK BEYOND THEIR SHORT-TERM NEEDS AND PUT THEIR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER. THERE TWO COMPREHENSIVE PREGRAMS TEACH HOW TO GET OUT OF DEBT, BUDGET FOR EXPENSES, PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES, AND ESTABLISH A FINANCIAL FUTURE THAT INCLUDES GIVING TO OTHERS IN NEED. THE TWO PROGRAMS ARE ON TWO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EDUCATION TO ACCOMODATE ANY NEED. THE COMPUTER LAB PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TEACH BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS AND PROVIDE BASIC COMPUTER ACCESS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITIES. JOBS FOR LIFE IS DESIGNEDTO PROVIDE TRAINING COURSES FOR ADULTS AND IT INCORPORATES BIBLICAL TRUTHS AND STORIES TO HELP MEN AND WOMEN UNDERSTAND THEIR DIGNITY AND GOD-GIVEN IDENTITY AND GIFTS, DEVELOP CHARACTER, AND FOSTER A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY THAT WILL EQUIP THEM FOR WORK AND LIFE. THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PAIR TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WITH PARTICIPANTS IN PEER SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT BOTH EMPOWER AND EQUIP PARTICIPANTS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2020 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2020.
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 2024.
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 March 2021.
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.