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Spanish American Committee for a Better Community

EIN 34-1028559 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Mission: The Spanish American Committees mission is act and serve as a gateway to socioeconomic success for individuals and families in Northeast Ohio while maintaining and celebrating a Latino perspective and focus to all.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
13.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
36
Highest pay
$136,874, 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
  1. $592,789 spent. Little Footsteps Early Childhood Enrichment Center: The Spanish American Committee Early Childhood Enrichment Center was the first bilingual day care in the State of Ohio and remains the only one in Cuyahoga County. The center offers early education and services to children as young as six-weeks (6 weeks) old to 8 years old. The Center provides a diverse bilingual and multicultural curriculum. The center is fully licensed and State certified as well as currently has 3-star and is seeking to obtain 5-stars in 2021.
  2. $521,098 spent. Families First Program: A variety of social services are offered by our licensed social worker and case manager currently at the agency. Our Social worker and case manager aid clients in an array of services such as: applying for public assistance, including SNAP Benefits, social security, HEAP/PIPP, and similar programs, referrals to shelters in cases of homelessness or domestic violence instances, county childcare voucher application assistance, an on-site domestic violence counselor, help with job applications, document translation, immigration clinic every Wednesday, as well as getting connected to the Cleveland Furniture Bank and other partnering agencies who aid us in accepting referrals. In addition to the social services provided, under families first the agency offers employment and training services as well. This includes: job referral, job preparation counseling, job readiness training, and a job bank/job service.
  3. $212,596 spent. Mi Casa Housing Program: As a HUD certified Housing Counseling Agency, our certified Housing Counselor and Financial Literacy Advisor provide case management services in the areas of First Time Homebuyers, Mortgage Default and Delinquency (Foreclosure Prevention), Financial Literacy (Consumer Education), and Tenant Landlord mediation. Our Housing Counseling Program is also an affiliate member of UnidosUS. The agencies housing program works to build partnerships with the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County to ensure renters can find available rental units, report any cases of discrimination or cases of scams, identity theft and credit problems, as well as with other housing agencies such as CHN Housing Partners and EDEN.
  4. $157,146 spent. In addition, we help with resumes, hold bi-weekly job fairs with roughly 10-13 different companies looking for employees, Spanish-language GED program, English Classes, NCLEX Examination Preparatory Classes, and the Latino Construction Program that began in 2018.

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 1969.

    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.

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.