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Marys Pence

EIN 36-3556481 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MARY'S PENCE PROMOTES CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE BY DIRECTING DONATED RESOURCES TO SMALL WOMEN'S PROJECTS IN NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN. MARY'S PENCE IS AN ORGANIZATION SERVING WOMEN IN THE AMERICAS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH INCREASED ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE FOCUS IS ON MINISTRIES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE. MARY'S PENCE OFFERS RESOURCES AND TRAINING THAT INCREASES WOMEN'S ECONOMIC POWER WHILE FOSTERING EDUCATION AND EXPANDING LEADERSHIP.

Income
$931,283
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
7
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$97,079, executive director

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 92% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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 (3)
  1. $428,742 spent. THE ESPERA PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO ON ECONOMIC AUTONOMY AND EMPOWERMENT. A KEY FOCUS IS ECONOMIC SECURITY THOUGH DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL ECONOMIC ENTERPRISES. WE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LOCALLY OWNED LENDING POOLS, TRAINING ON BUSINESS SKILLS, AND COACHING OF SMALL BUSINESSES. WE WORK WITH EXISTING LOCAL WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE PARTNER WITH THEM ON STRENGTHENING THEIR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. EMOTIONAL WELLNESS HAS BEEN A RECENT FOCUS, AND WE HAVE SPONSORED LOCAL GROUP WORKSHOPS, AS WELL AS ONLINE EMOTIONAL WELLNESS TOOLS. THE ESPERA PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH 14 GROUPS IN 5 COUNTRIES. OVER $200,000 IS IN CIRCULATION IN THE LOCAL LENDING POOLS, AND OVER 1,400 WOMEN HAVE BENEFITED FROM LOANS OVER TIME. OVER $80,000 IN GRANTS WERE PROVIDED TO OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS FOR LOCAL PROJECTS.
  2. $324,702 spent. MARY'S PENCE FUNDS WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS IN THE US THAT ARE WORKING WITHIN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO CREATE LONG-TERM SYSTEMIC CHANGE. THE ORGANIZATIONS WE FUND ARE ALL SMALL, WITH BUDGETS UNDER $250,000. EACH ORGANIZATION ORGANIZES AND CREATES HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, ADVOCATES TO CHANGE UNJUST POLICIES, AND EDUCATES TO BUILD SKILLS AND INCREASE CAPACITY. OUR GRANTS ACT AS SEED MONEY FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NEWLY CREATED, AND AS SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL FOR YEARS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT, MARY'S PENCE CONNECTS OUR GRANTEES WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AND HELPFUL RESOURCES. THIS YEAR WE GAVE GRANTS TO 23 ORGANIZATIONS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HOSTED A 3 DAY WORKSHOP FOR OUR GRANTEES WHERE THEY CONNECTED AND CREATED COMMUNITY, AND PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS CRITICAL TO SMALL NONPROFIT SUCCESS.
  3. $96,036 spent. OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE BASED ON CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING PRINCIPLES. MARY'S PENCE SHARES INFORMATION ON THE ISSUES OF JUSTICE, WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND OTHER ISSUES FACED BY WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN POVERTY - HERE IN THE U.S. AS WELL AS IN LATIN AMERICA. OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS INCLUDE OUR NEWSLETTERS, EMAILS, AND LETTERS TO DONORS AND INTERESTED PARTIES, PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS, OUR CALENDAR OF WOMEN AND OTHER WAYS WE INTERACT WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 September 1988.

    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.