Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project (MPCPMP) is a non-profit tax-exempt organization established in 2011 to honor the two million captive Africans who perished during the transatlantic crossing known as the Middle Passage and the ten million who survived to build the Americas.
- Income
- $363,268
- Spending
- $201,920
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 27.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $48,871, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1493% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $167,649 spent. The installation of markers and the ceremonial commemoration of the lives of African ancestors that provide an accurate history of the arrival, presence, and contributions of Africans and their descendants in the U.S. will educate, open the doors of communication, and provide a mechanism to heal individuals, communities, and the nation. This initiative enables on-going public and formal inclusion of their experiences and importance in the national narrative. In 2023 we carried on the work of:Commemorating the nearly 12 million Africans involved in the Middle Passage of the transatlantic human trade.Researching and identifying ports of entry for Africans during the 350 years of the transatlantic human tradeEncouraging local communities to hold remembrance ceremonies at each of the 90 documented Middle Passage port sites in the United States of AmericaSupporting the installation of historic markers to establish a permanent record honoring those who died and those who survived the Middle PassageEducating the community about the vital role that Africans and their descendants played in the development of both local areas and the nationPartnering with historical and cultural societies, academic institutions, churches, visitor and tourist bureaus, and community organizations to promote African Diaspora history and culture, especially related to the Middle Passage.MPCPMP has identified 90 U.S. Middle Passage arrival sites, those locations where Africans first placed their feet after leaving the African continent. Thus far, with our support, and occasional prodding, 40 Middle Passage markers are installed from New Hampshire to Texas commemorating the lives of these ancestors. More than 100 community people have taken on the responsibility of managing and promoting Middle Passage History in their areas. We have also successfully petitioned UNESCO to designate all 90 arrival locations as Sites of Memory in association with its "Routes of Enslaved Peoples Project."
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.