Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE MATER ECCLESIAE FUND FOR VOCATIONS (THE FUND) IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEN AND WOMEN IN CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS LIFE BY AWARDING GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE VOCATIONS TO THE CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS LIFE, BUT WHO ARE PREVENTED FROM BEGINNING OR CONTINIUING THEIR FORMATION BY THEIR PRE-EXISTING STUDENT LOANS AND OTHER FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $916,311
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 32.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $181,897, 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 (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 32.9 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 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 (2)
- $491,630 spent. THE FUND OPERATES THE ST. JOSEPH STUDENT DEBT RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM FOR MEN AND WOMEN WITH VOCATIONS TO THE CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS LIFE (INCLUDING THOSE MONASTERIES OR OTHER COMMUNITIES WHOSE MEMBERS MAKE VOWS OF POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE AS WELL AS THOSE IN SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE, WHOSE MEMBERS DO NOT MAKE SUCH VOWS) BUT WHO ARE PREVENTED FROM BEGINNING OR CONTINUING THEIR RELIGIOUS FORMATION DUE TO THEIR PRE-EXISTING STUDENT LOANS AND OTHER FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. IN 2025, THE FUND AWARDED 24 NEW GRANTS. IN TOTAL 66 MEN AND 126 WOMEN WERE BENEFICIARIES UNDER THE PROGRAM AS OF 2025. AT DECEMBER 31, 2025 THESE FUTURE GRANTS ARE REFLECTED IN A CONTINGENT LIABILITY OF $1,817,173 FOR FUTURE GRANT PAYMENTS.
- $216,146 spent. THE FUND CONDUCTS AN ONGOING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO INFORM MEMBERS OF THE CATHOLIC FAITHFUL ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS PROBLEM FACING MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE PREVENTED FROM PURSUING THEIR VOCATIONS TO THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD AND/OR RELIGIOUS LIFE BY THEIR STUDENT DEBTS. IN 2025, APPROXIMATELY 4000 CATHOLIC HOUSEHOLDS WERE CONTACTED THROUGH A DIRECT MAIL PROGRAM (INCLUDING BOTH POSTAL MAIL AND E-MAIL) ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND ABOUT THE SOLUTION DEVELOPED BY THE FUND. THE FUND ALSO OPERATES THROUGH ITS WEBSITE, FUNDFORVOCATIONS.ORG, AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, LINKED-IN AND YOUTUBE. THE FACEBOOK PAGES REPORTED 46,500 VIEWS AND 5,300 INTERACTIONS. THE INSTAGRAM PROFILE HAD 370,500 VIEWS AND 14,600 INTERACTIONS. LINKED-IN, THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND THE WEBSITE ALSO SAW STRONG GROWTH IN VIEWS AND ENGAGEMENT IN 2025.
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 February 2007.
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.