Mercy Housing Lakefront
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF MERCY HOUSING LAKEFRONT IS TO DIRECTLY FACILITATE THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO FAMILIES, SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, HOMELESS AND POTENTIALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE LACK THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO OBTAIN QUALITY, SAFE HOUSING. FURTHER, MERCY HOUSING LAKEFRONT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF FREE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE.
- Income
- $28.0 million
- Spending
- $17.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 56%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $308,489, vice 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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 79% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 117% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 20 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (3)
- $9.6 million spent. RESIDENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO RESIDENTS OF LOW-INCOME MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL PROPERTIES INCLUDING FAMILIES, SENIORS, AND PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE RESIDENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FALL INTO FOUR PRIMARY AREAS - EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY. RESIDENT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS ARE TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH LOW-INCOME HOUSING COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, GED AND ENGLISH COURSES, EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES AND HOMEOWNERSHIP SEMINARS.
- $5.2 million spent. HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDE ACQUIRING ACCEPTABLE LOCATIONS FOR EITHER NEW CONSTRUCTION OR REHABILITATION OF EXISTING PROPERTIES FOR MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL PROPERTIES AND SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING UNITS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS, OBTAINING FINANCING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-INCOME PROPERTIES AND HOUSING UNITS, AND MANAGING THE CONSTRUCTION AND/OR REHABILITATION OF LOW-INCOME PROPERTIES AND HOUSING UNITS THROUGH OBTAINING THE CERTIFICATION OF OCCUPANCY AND PROJECT COMPLETION.
- $1.1 million spent. ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO LOW-INCOME MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL PROPERTIES AND INCLUDE PREPARING AND MANAGING ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGETS, PREPARING REPORTS FOR INVESTORS AND LENDERS, OVERSEEING THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AND ENSURING AND MONITORING COMPLIANCE TO MEET REGULATORY AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF RESIDENTS.
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 July 1987.
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.