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El Centro Inc

EIN 36-2904073 · Kansas City, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF EL-CENTRO, INC., A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, IS STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF LATINOS AND OTHERS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, WEALTH, AND ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
36.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
74
Volunteers
63
Highest pay
$143,243, president/ ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 36.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    12 of 12 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 June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. PRE-K EDUCATION: ESTABLISHED IN 1989, EL CENTRO'S NATIONALLY ACCREDITED (THROUGH NAEYC - THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN) OUR ACADEMY FOR CHILDREN PREPARES 2 1/2 - 5-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN THROUGH ITS QUALITY, DUAL-LANGUAGE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LITERACY, READING READINESS AND NUMERACY. WITH ALMOST 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, OUR PRE-K PROGRAM FOCUSES ON BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN--SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO ARE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-LEARNERS-TO BECOME LIFE-LONG LEARNERS. THE ACADEMY FOR CHILDREN ALSO PROVIDES MONTHLY "FAMILY NIGHTS" TO TEACH PARENTS ON HOW TO BETTER WORK WITH THEIR CHILDREN ON TYING LESSONS LEARNED AT THE ACADEMY WITH THEIR HOME LIFE. SEE SCHEDULE O.WORKSHOPS AT THE ACADEMY ALSO GIVE FAMILIES SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AT HOME. THE ACADEMY HELPS FAMILIES FOSTER THE LANGUAGE AND EARLY LITERACY SKILLS THAT CHILDREN NEED TO BECOME STRONG READERS AND LIFELONG LEARNERS.
  2. $747,709 spent. ACCESS RELATED SERVICES: COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAMS RANGE FROM COMMUNITY HEALTH FOCUS OUTREACH AND INTERVENTIONS WORKING WITH UNDER/UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING HEALTH NAVIGATION SERVICES, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES, BILLING ASSISTANCE, AND FUNDING SPECIALTY CARE. WE ALSO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL VOUCHERS THROUGH ACCESS KC, CLIENT ADVOCACY AND OTHER SERVICES THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILIES WITH OUR HEALTH FOCUSED OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND INTERVENTIONS. WE ALSO TRAIN AND DEPLOY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS KNOWN AS "PROMOTORAS" WHICH ARE LAY HEALTH EDUCATORS THAT PROVIDE COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EDUCATION.
  3. $900,575 spent. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT & ASSISTANCE SERVICES: THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM SERVES LOW-/MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION OF MONEY MANAGEMENT (E.G., BUDGETING, SAVINGS, AND ASSET-BUILDING). INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING IN MONEY MANAGEMENT ISSUES ARE OFFERED, ALONG WITH FREE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) AND ITIN APPLICATIONS.
  4. $225,550 spent. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE POLICY ADVOCACY AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES. POLICY ADVOCACY EMPHASIZES PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY AT LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS, INCLUDING EDUCATING PEOPLE ON REGISTERING TO VOTE AND THE VOTING PROCESS. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE UTILIZING EXCESS BUILDING SPACE TO PRODUCE INCOME THROUGH RENTAL AGREEMENTS AND ENCOURAGES COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.