Project Defending Life
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCH O
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $110,000, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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, 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)
- $781,761 spent. LA LUZ WOMEN'S CENTERS OFFER LIMITED-MEDICAL SERVICES INCLUDING MEDICAL-GRADE PREGNANCY TESTING, LIMITED OBSTETRIC ULTRASOUNDS TO CONFIRM PREGNANCY, STD/STI TESTING AND TREATMENT, AND PREGNANCY OPTIONS INFORMATION. LA LUZ WOMEN'S CENTER SERVED 583 WOMEN AND SAW 393 BABIES SAVED! DURING THIS TIME, 94% OF WOMEN WE SERVED WERE AT-RISK FOR ABORTION. LA LUZ HOME VISITING OFFERS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THROUGH A HOME-VISITING PROGRAM, A STATE INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE FAMILIES PARENTING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT, EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION, ADVOCACY, REFERRALS, MATERIAL SUPPORT, AND MORE.
- $54,564 spent. PUBLIC WITNESS AND ENCOUNTER IS AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE TO PRAY IN FRONT OF ABORTION FACILITIES IN LAW-ABIDING, PEACEFUL VIGILS FOR HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION.
- $17,238 spent. HOLY INNOCENTS CHAPEL IS A EUCHARISTIC CHAPEL WHERE WE TRANSFORM LIVES DURING WEEKLY MASS AND DAILY ADORATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.
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 August 2007.
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.