Cafe Momentum
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CAFE MOMENTUM, A DALLAS-BASED RESTAURANT AND CULINARY TRAINING FACILITY, TRANSFORMS YOUNG LIVES BY EQUIPPING OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST AT-RISK YOUTH WITH LIFE SKILLS, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- -9.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 124
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $250,011, svp of partnership (p/t)
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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 68% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 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
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
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 (1)
- $3.0 million spent. RESTAURANT SERVICE AND CATERED EVENTS IN WHICH PROFESSIONAL CHEFS WORK FACETS OF THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. BY WORKING ALONGSIDE THESE SUCCESSFUL CHEFS, THE TEENS RECEIVED TRAINING AND INSIGHT INTO WHAT IT TAKES TO FORGE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN THE CULINARY INDUSTRY, AS WELL ASADVICE ON WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYEE IN ANY ENDEAVOR. ADDITIONALLY, A TEAM OF CASE MANAGERS WORK TO CREATE AN ECO-SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR EACH INTERN, SECURING RESOURCES IN AREAS INCLUDING HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, LIFE SKILLS, LEGAL ISSUES AND BASIC URGENT NEEDS. THERE WERE 74 INTERNS SERVED IN 2024.
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? 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 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 February 2013.
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.