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Esperanza United

EIN 41-1414710 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ESPERANZA UNITED'S MISSION IS TO MOBILIZE LATINAS AND LATINO COMMUNITIES TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

Income
$14.4 million
Spending
$13.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
72
Volunteers
47
Highest pay
$263,093, former 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (5)
  1. $1.7 million spent. THE FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT FOR LATIN@S AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN THE SEVEN-COUNTY METROPOLITAN AREA OF THE TWIN CITIES, MINNESOTA, WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. ESPERANZA UNITED PROVIDES A VARIETY OF OPTIONS TO BEST MEET OUR FAMILIES' NEEDS INCLUDING: EL REFUGIO (EMERGENCY SHELTER), A BILINGUAL CRISIS LINE, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SUPPORT, ASSISTING WITH REFERRALS TO OTHER RESOURCES AND MOBILE ADVOCACY. THROUGH MOBILE ADVOCACY, OUR LATIN@ FAMILY ADVOCATES MEET SURVIVORS WHEREVER THEY FEEL SAFE, TO HELP THEM CREATE SAFETY PLANS, NAVIGATE LEGAL SYSTEMS, AND ACCOMPANY THEM TO SCHOOL, COURT, OR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. DURING THIS LAST YEAR, OUR CRISIS LINE RECEIVED OVER 600 CALLS RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. EL REFUGIO PROVIDED SAFE HOUSING FOR 247 SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN, 220 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED EMERGENCY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, 2007 INSTANCES OF INTERPRETER SERVICES WERE DELIVERED, AND 654 INSTANCES OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED. OUR FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM ALSO SERVED 278 YOUTH. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO DEEPEN OUR ADVOCACY FOR SURVIVORS AND PROVIDED 563 CASES OF LEGAL ADVOCACY WHICH INCLUDED 137 ORDERS FOR PROTECTION. WE HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR OUTREACH WITH COMMUNITY CENTERED EVENTS SUCH AS THE FERIA LATINA EXPO, WHERE OVER 40 VENDORS PLUS A COVID-19 AND FLU VACCINE CLINIC SHOWCASED RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND HOSTED OUR THIRD ANNUAL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS EVENT, WHERE WE HONORED AND REMEMBERED THE LIVES LOST DUE TO VIOLENCE.
  2. $413,837 spent. THE PREVENTION AND SOCIAL CHANGE TEAM FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING THE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY OF LATIN@S OF ALL AGES TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. OVER THE LAST YEAR WE IMPLEMENTED 26 INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUTH, MEN, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN CREATING SYSTEMIC CHANGE. OUR WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP, IMPACTED APPROXIMATELY 423 INDIVIDUALS, 90% OF PARTICIPANTS STATED THAT THEY LEARNED SOMETHING NEW THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO THEIR LIVES. ADDITIONALLY, 100% OF PARTICIPANTS SHARED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF HOW TRAUMA AND VIOLENCE CAN AFFECT THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. OUR PADRES EN LIDERAZGO PROGRAM EMPOWERED LATIN@ PARENTS AND YOUTH BY ADDRESSING CRITICAL TOPICS SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND ADOLESCENT COMMUNICATION. THIS YEAR, EIGHT OUTSTANDING TEEN LEADERS ORGANIZED TOUR ANNUAL YOUTH CONFERENCE, CONNECTING WITH 34 LOCAL STUDENTS IN TOPICS INCLUDING HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, EMBRACING CHANGE, HIDDEN STORIES: EMPOWERING YOUTH AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UNMASKING DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HEALING THROUGH ART. WE ALSO HOSTED RECREATIONAL EVENTS, SUCH AS FISHING OUTINGS, WHERE 74 PARTICIPANTS LEARNED ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS IN A FUN OUTDOOR SETTING. THE CONTINUING FOCUS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE SERVE IS TO BUILD NEW PEER RELATIONSHIPS, GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ROLES AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND TAKE ACTION TO PROMOTE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAMMING.
  3. $9.5 million spent. THE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM PROVIDES EDUCATION, CONSULTATION AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT TO MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND PUERTO RICO. DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM PROVIDED 43 TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND 1,218 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONSULTATIONS REACHING OVER 1,342 INDIVIDUALS NATIONWIDE, AS WELL AS PUBLISHED PODCASTS, NEWSLETTERS, AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. OVERALL, OUR TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES REACHED NEARLY 3,500 INDIVIDUALS, DELIVERING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACHES AND EQUIPPING PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH TOOLS TO BETTER SERVE LATIN@ SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
  4. THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION TEAM, THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN, CONDUCTS PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND EVALUATION STUDIES THAT ELEVATE LATIN@ COMMUNITY STRENGTHS AND LEADERSHIP IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION. THE TEAM PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO ORGANIZATIONS NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING RESEARCH SUMMARIES TO INFORM BEST PRACTICE AND FEEDBACK ON THE METHOD AND USE OF COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, PROGRAM EVALUATIONS, AND ORIGINAL RESEARCH PROJECTS. THIS PAST YEAR, THE TEAM'S PUBLISHED WORK INCLUDES STUDIES EXAMINING INFORMAL SUPPORT NETWORKS FOR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF MATERNAL IPV EXPERIENCES ON ADOLESCENT INTERNALIZING BEHAVIORS. PEER-REVIEWED ABSTRACTS WERE ACCEPTED THIS YEAR FOR PRESENTATION AT CONFERENCES THAT INCLUDE THE VIOLENCE PREVENTION CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION'S SOCIETY FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF SOCIAL ISSUES. THESE EFFORTS ADDRESS KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND PROVIDE ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS TO BETTER SUPPORT LATIN@ SURVIVORS. THROUGH THIS ADVOCACY, WE HELPED EXPAND THE KNOWLEDGE BASE ON CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES, FURTHERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS FOR LATIN@ COMMUNITIES.
  5. THE PUBLIC POLICY DEPARTMENT SERVES AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN SYSTEMS AND LATIN@ COMMUNITIES, ADVANCING SURVIVOR-CENTERED PUBLIC POLICY GROUNDED IN LIVED EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY WISDOM. WE ELEVATE SURVIVOR VOICES, BUILD ADVOCACY CAPACITY, EXPAND ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND SHAPE POLICIES THAT PROMOTE SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND JUSTICE THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. WE ADVANCED THIS WORK THROUGH SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVELS. WE PARTNERED WITH U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS) AND THE WHITE HOUSE TO INFORM UPCOMING POLICY CHANGES RELATED TO THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT. WE CONDUCTED OVER 40 MEETINGS WITH CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES AND MEMBERS OF THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATURE TO EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS AND UPLIFT THE REALITIES FACING LATIN@ SURVIVORS AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THEM. WE ALSO MOBILIZED RAPIDLY IN RESPONSE TO HARMFUL POLICIES IMPACTING LATIN@ COMMUNITIES. AS CO-CHAIRS OF THE ALLIANCE FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS, WE HELD COMMUNITY CALLS REACHING OVER 400 INDIVIDUALS, ATTENDED CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS, AND SUBMITTED COMMENTS ON RULES AND REGULATIONS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE INCREASED VISIBILITY OF THE BARRIERS FACING LATIN@ SURVIVORS, STRENGTHENED COORDINATION ACROSS NATIONAL PARTNERS, AND ENSURED THAT COMMUNITY-INFORMED PERSPECTIVES WERE REFLECTED IN KEY POLICY CONVERSATIONS.

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 April 1982.

    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.

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