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Center for Mindful Self Compassion Inc

EIN 47-4358886 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 62 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ALLEVIATE HUMAN SUFFERING AND ENHANCE GLOBAL WELL-BEING THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF SELF-COMPASSION. WE DO THIS BY OFFERING ACCESSIBLE, FLEXIBLE, AND AFFORDABLE SELF-COMPASSION RESOURCES AND TRAINING; SUPPORTING MSC TEACHERS THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; AND PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING IN ALL OUR ACTIVITIES. WE COLLABORATE WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, ENGAGE WITH KEY SOCIETAL SYSTEMS, FOSTER A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, AND ENCOURAGE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF SELF-COMPASSION.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
10
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$121,000, employee

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

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 62 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $283,981 spent. PUBLIC COURSES (LOMSC): LOMSC OFFERS AROUND 95% OF THE MATERIAL FROM THE MSC PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY KRISTIN NEFF, PHD, AND CHRISTOPHER GERMER, PHD. MSC IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE HOW WE TYPICALLY RESPOND WHEN DIFFICULTIES ARISE IN OUR LIVES AND TO LEARN TOOLS FOR BECOMING A WARM AND SUPPORTIVE COMPANION TO OURSELVES. THE EMPHASIS OF THE PROGRAM IS ON ENHANCING EMOTIONAL RESOURCES TO MEET EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES, OLD AND NEW. MSC IS ALSO NOT PRIMARILY A TYPE OF MINDFULNESS TRAINING; MSC IS MINDFULNESS-BASED COMPASSION TRAINING IN WHICH THE QUALITY OF WARMTH IS EMPHASIZED MORE THAN AWARENESS ITSELF.
  2. $182,780 spent. TEACHER TRAINING: DEVELOP PERSONAL MINDFULNESS AND SELF-COMPASSION PRACTICES, UNDERSTAND THE CORE THEORY AND RESEARCH BEHIND SELF-COMPASSION, IDENTIFY KEY THEMES OF THE MSC PROGRAM INCLUDING THE RETREAT, BUILD SKILLS TO FACILITATE GROUPS THROUGH MEDITATION, EMBODIED TEACHING, AND GROUP COHESION, RECOGNIZE COMMON OBSTACLES TO PRACTICE AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM, AND CULTIVATE A MINDFUL, COMPASSIONATE STANCE TOWARD PARTICIPANTS FACING CHALLENGES.
  3. $126,400 spent. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: THE SELF-COMPASSION IN PSYCHOTHERAPY (SCIP) PROGRAM ADDRESSES A CRUCIAL NEED WITHIN THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY. IT IDENTIFIES A GAP IN THE INTEGRATION OF SELF-COMPASSION PRACTICES INTO PSYCHOTHERAPY. THE PROGRAM IS A RESPONSE TO THE GROWING ACKNOWLEDGMENT AMONG PSYCHOTHERAPISTS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-COMPASSION FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING. IT AIMS TO EQUIP THERAPISTS WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM MINDFUL SELF-COMPASSION (MSC) PRACTICES WITH THE SKILLS TO INCORPORATE THESE PRINCIPLES INTO THEIR CLINICAL WORK. FURTHERMORE, IT SEEKS TO SUPPORT CLINICIANS IN USING THEIR PERSONAL MINDFULNESS AND COMPASSION PRACTICES AS A FOUNDATION FOR FOSTERING EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERVENTIONS. THIS INITIATIVE IS ALSO DRIVEN BY THE DESIRE TO OFFER A CONTINUING EDUCATION EXPERIENCE THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING TO ALL IDENTITIES AND INTERSECTIONS OF IDENTITY, ADDRESSING THE CALL FOR GREATER DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING IN THERAPEUTIC PRACTICES.
  4. $451,568 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS: OTHER GENERAL SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.