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Heart of Compassion Distribution

EIN 42-1573926 · Montebello, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE TOTAL PERSON

Income
$32.2 million
Spending
$31.6 million
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
2
Volunteers
1,900
Highest pay
$20,720, secretary

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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 110% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $31.2 million spent. HEART OF COMPASSION DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS PRIMARILY AS A FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER. THE ORGANIZATION COLLECTED, PACKAGED, AND DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 15 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD AND MORE THAN 685,000 POUNDS OF PERSONAL GOODS TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH A NETWORK OF 85 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS. WEEKLY EVENTS WERE HELD ON SITE AND THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
  2. $318,037 spent. HEART OF COMPASSION DISTRIBUTION OPERATES A MENS REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY HOME. MEN WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HARD TIMES, COMING OUT OF GANGS, DRUGS, PRISON OR OTHER DIFFICULTIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY BY VOLUNTARILY ENROLLING IN A ONE-YEAR PROGRAM THAT OFFERS DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHABILITATION AND JOB AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES AND DRUG COUNSELING TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE OF RECIDIVISM. MEN ARE REQUIRED TO PUT IN 40-45 HOURS PER WEEK OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AT OUR DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE AS PART OF THE PROGRAM. OUR MEN RECEIVE WAREHOUSE LOGISTICS TRAINING, INCLUDING HOW TO USE FORKLIFTS, PALLET JACKS, LOADING AND UNLOADING TRUCKS, AND SOME RECEIVE BOBTAIL TRUCK DRIVING TRAINING. THE PROGRAM ENDEAVORS TO GIVE MEN THE PROPER JOB AND LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN SOCIETY, ALONG WITH PROVIDING COPING SKILLS TO PREVENT TRIGGERS. THE COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENT INCREASES THE SELF-ESTEEM OF THE MEN IN THE PROGRAM BY ALLOWING THEM TO HELP PROVIDE FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIAL GOODS TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. SEEING THE POSITIVE EFFECT OF THEIR WORK AND WHAT IT DOES FOR LOCAL FAMILIES BUILDS THE MENS CONFIDENCE AND SENSE OF WORTH. ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE ABOUT SEVEN MEN ENROLLED IN THE MENS HOME AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WE HAVE HAD MANY SUCCESS STORIES IN THE MENS HOME: ONE MAN GRAUDATED THIS YEAR, FIVE RECEIVED THEIR FORKLIFT CERTIFICATION, AND SIX MEN RECEIVED THEIR CPR CERTIFICATION. SOME PREVIOUS GRAUDATES STILL RETURN TO HEART OF COMPASSION DISTRIBUTION TO HELP VOLUNTEER FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

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 November 6, 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 March 2004.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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