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Latino U College Access

EIN 46-1211285 · White Plains, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LUCA'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AND COMPLETION AMONG LOW-INCOME, FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS. THROUGH OUR COMPREHENSIVE SIX-YEAR PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED GUIDANCE AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT, BILINGUAL SUPPORT FROM COLLEGE ADMISSIONS THROUGH GRADUATION. OUR PROGRAM PILLARS OF SUPPORT ASSIST STUDENTS FROM THE JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE GRADUATION, ENSURING THEY NOT ONLY GET INTO COLLEGE BUT ALSO GRADUATE READY TO ENTER THEIR CHOSEN CAREERS SO THAT SCHOLARS CAN FULFILL THEIR ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND LIFE POTENTIAL.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 52%
Employees
22
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$156,000, founder and executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $380,895 spent. LUCA SCHOLARS / COLLEGE ACCESSTHE LUCA SCHOLARS COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM EMPOWERS HIGH-ACHIEVING, FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS TO ACCESS HIGHER EDUCATION BY MATCHING THEM WITH TRAINED VOLUNTEER COLLEGE COACHES WHO GUIDE THEM THROUGH EVERY STEP OF THE ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID PROCESS. BEGINNING IN JUNIOR YEAR, SCHOLARS FROM EIGHT PARTNER HIGH SCHOOLS RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP, COLLEGE APPLICATION ASSISTANCE, ESSAY WRITING SUPPORT, SAT PREP, AND FINANCIAL AID COMPLETION TO IDENTIFY INSTITUTIONS THAT BEST FIT THEIR ACADEMIC GOALS AND FAMILY FINANCIAL NEEDS.IN FY2024, LUCA SERVED 100 SCHOLARS AND THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDING FAFSA COMPLETION SUPPORT, APPLICATION COACHING, AND PERSONALIZED COLLEGE MATCHING. AS A RESULT, 100% OF LUCA SCHOLARS GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGE, MOST WITH SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL AID AWARDS, MINIMAL DEBT, AND OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS TO FAMILIES.
  2. $315,864 spent. LUCA SCHOLARS / COLLEGE SUCCESS THE LUCA SCHOLARS COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT SCHOLARS NOT ONLY ENROLL IN COLLEGE BUT PERSIST, GRADUATE, AND LAUNCH MEANINGFUL CAREERS. ONCE ENROLLED, STUDENTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING, PEER MENTORING, AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO NAVIGATE ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL, AND SOCIAL TRANSITIONS DURING THEIR FIRST TWO YEARS. PARENTS ARE ENGAGED THROUGH BILINGUAL "FIRST GEN PADRES" WORKSHOPS THAT HELP FAMILIES UNDERSTAND HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS' SUCCESS IN COLLEGE.LUCA'S HOLISTIC, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE MODEL HAS PRODUCED EXCEPTIONAL OUTCOMES: OVER 90% OF LUCA SCHOLARS HAVE GRADUATED OR REMAIN ON TRACK TO GRADUATE WITHIN SIX YEARS, COMPARED TO A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF LESS THAN 50% FOR FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS. NEARLY HALF ATTEND "MOST SELECTIVE OR "VERY SELECTIVE" FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS
  3. $232,254 spent. LUCA SCHOLARS / CAREER READINESS THE LUCA SCHOLARS CAREER READINESS & INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PREPARES COLLEGE JUNIORS AND SENIORS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE WITH CONFIDENCE AND PURPOSE. THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, MENTORING, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS, SCHOLARS BUILD THE SKILLS AND NETWORKS NECESSARY FOR EARLY CAREER SUCCESS. SIGNATURE EVENTS SUCH AS "CAREER EXPLORATION DAYS," INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS, AND "CAREER WORKSHOPS" CONNECT SCHOLARS DIRECTLY WITH EMPLOYERS IN INDUSTRIES INCLUDING STEM, BUSINESS, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS AND FAFSA BOOTCAMPS LUCA EXTENDS ITS IMPACT BEYOND ENROLLED SCHOLARS BY SERVING THE BROADER WESTCHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY THROUGH CULTURALLY RELEVANT, BILINGUAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND OUTREACH. PROGRAMS SUCH AS "PATHWAYS TO COLLEGE," "APPLYING TO COLLEGE", "PAYING FOR COLLEGE, AND FAFSA BOOTCAMPS EQUIP FAMILIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS TO BEGIN THE COLLEGE JOURNEY.SINCE ITS FOUNDING, LUCA HAS REACHED MORE THAN 9,121 STUDENTS AND PARENTS ACROSS EIGHT WESTCHESTER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HELPING FAMILIES GAIN CRITICAL ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 January 2013.

    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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