International Samaritan
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO WALK HAND-IN-HAND WITH PEOPLE IN GARBAGE DUMP COMMUNITIES, ALONG WITH THOSE WITH A CALLING TO HELP, TO BREAK THE CHAINS OF POVERTY AND TO IMPROVE OUR LIVES TOGETHER.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 49 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $201,365, president
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 49.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 69% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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 (4)
- $2.5 million spent. SCHOLARSHIPSWITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR DONORS, WE PROVIDE HOLISTIC SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUNG PEOPLE FROM FAMILIES WHO LIVE OR WORK IN GARBAGE DUMP COMMUNITIES. SCHOLARSHIPS RANGE FROM PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL TO TRADE SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OLDER STUDENTS. SCHOLARS IN OUR PROGRAM ALSO RECEIVE FOOD SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES WHEN NEEDED, AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.900 SCHOLARS IN 7 PROGRAM SITES IN 5 NATIONS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024. THESE RANGE FROM ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN TO SCHOLARS PURSUING UNIVERSITY DEGREES IN ENGINEERING, LAW AND MEDICAL DEGREES.
- $820,242 spent. FAMILY SUPPORTAS PART OF OUR HOLISTIC SCHOLARSHIP MODEL, WE PROVIDE FOOD AND OTHER SUPPORTS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND URGENT MEDICAL CARE TO OUR SCHOLARS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 1500 FAMILIES OF SCHOLARS RECEIVED FOOD SUPPORT IN 2024. IN ADDITION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES WERE PROVIDED INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE AND VISION AND DENTAL CARE FOR SCHOLARS AS NEED WAS IDENTIFIED BY OUR IN-COUNTRY TEAMS.
- $615,181 spent. PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT (CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS)AS WE ARE ABLE, WE BUILD WELLS AND WATER SYSTEMS TO BRING FRESH WATER TO ENTIRE COMMUNITES. WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO BUILD A FAMILY LIFE CENTER IN EACH COMMUNITY TO HELP OUR SCHOLARS AND THEIR PARENTS GROW STRONGER AND HEALTHIER TOGETHER TO COLLECTIVELY MOVE LARGER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY OUT OF POVERTY.
- $205,060 spent. OUR UNIQUE LEARN, SERVE, GROW PROGRAM PROVIDES YEAR-LONG, CROSS-CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN OUR SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES AND US SCHOLARS AND COMMUNITIES.
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 January 1997.
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.