Project Mexico of the Orthodox Church
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROJECT MEXICO INVOLVES VOLUNTEERS FROM THE US AND CANADA IN THE ALLEVIATION OF SUFFERING BY (1) BUILDING HOMES FOR MEXICO'S POOR AND (2) OPERATING ST. INNOCENT ORPHANAGE IN TIJUANA, A HOME FOR ABUSED TEENAGE BOYS. IT IS THE ONLY FACILITY OF ITS TYPE IN ALL OF TIJUANA.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 518
- Highest pay
- $147,140, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
0 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 August 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 (2)
- $1.6 million spent. ST. INNOCENT ORPHANAGE RESCUES ORPHANED AND ABANDONED BOYS AND GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO LIVE SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCTIVE LIVES. THE BOYS RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION, LEARN VOCATIONAL SKILLS, PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS, RECEIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING AND ARE TRAINED IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. ALL OF THIS, PLUS A STRUCTURED AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT, ALLOWS A MIRACULOUS TRANSFORMATION TO OCCUR. INSTEAD OF FENDING FOR THEMSELVES ON STREETS FILLED WITH CRIME, DRUGS, AND PROSTITUTION, THEY NOW HAVE THE FREEDOM TO PREPARE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE AND TO BECOME GIVERS, NOT TAKERS. THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNIZED ST. INNOCENT ORPHANAGE AS THE BEST IN THE STATE. WE HAD OVER 88 BOYS IN OUR PROGRAMS; 27 BOYS AND 36 INFANTS WERE SERVED AT THE ORPHANAGE DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 2025.
- $519,308 spent. SINCE INCEPTION, PROJECT MEXICO HAS BUILT OVER 503 HOMES FOR THE POOR IN MEXICO WITH THE HELP OF NEARLY 18,210 VOLUNTEERS FROM 49 US STATES, MANY CANADIAN PROVINCES AND 11 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. MANY FAMILIES ENDURE SQUALID CONDITIONS IN DIRT-FLOOR SHACKS PIECED TOGETHER WITH CARDBOARD, OLD TARPS AND WOODEN PALLETS. WITH NO PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS, CHILDREN AND ELDERLY OFTEN DIE DURING COLD RAINSTORMS. THE LACK OF SECURITY IN THEIR FLIMSY SHACKS MAKES THEM EASY VICTIMS FOR THIEVES. A PROJECT MEXICO HOME PROVIDES A CONCRETE FLOOR, SOLID WALLS AND ROOF, A WARM INTERIOR, AND A LOCKING DOOR. THIS IS A QUANTUM LEAP FORWARD FOR IMPOVERISHED MEXICAN FAMILIES AND GIVES THEM HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. 27 HOMES WERE BUILT AND 201,392 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE DONATED DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 2025.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 October 13, 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 August 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 October 1992.
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 October 21, 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.