M Street Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 60 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO TRANSFORM THE HISTORIC M STREET SCHOOL INTO A THRIVING HUB OF BLACK CULTURAL EXCELLENCE BY MOBILIZING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, PRESERVING HISTORY, AND FOSTERING CREATIVE EXPRESSION.
- Income
- $659,147
- Spending
- $863,440
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 73%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 23
- Highest pay
- $149,895, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 60 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
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 September 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 (1)
- $606,521 spent. M STREET CENTER IS DEDICATED TO THE HOLISTIC BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAM AREAS THAT CREATE POSITIVE, LASTING CHANGE FOR THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE AS A VITAL HUB FOR DIVERSE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, WE ARE WORKING TO UPGRADE AND RENOVATE OUR FACILITY TO EXPAND RESOURCES AND AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN ADDRESSING THE COMMUNITY'S EVOLVING NEEDS, AND WE ARE NOW WORKING ON PRESERVING THE HISTORIC AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILDING THAT WE OCCUPY, M STREET HIGH SCHOOL, THE FIRST PUBLICLY FUNDED HIGH SCHOOL FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE COUNTRY, OPENED IN 1891, THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:CELEBRATING M STREET - ELEVATES M STREET'S HISTORY AS THE FIRST PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS THROUGH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, ALIGNING COMMUNITY PRIDE WITH EDUCATION AND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION.M STREET YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL - THE M STREET YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL BUILDS FOUNDATIONAL COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND YOUTH-LED INITIATIVES TO INSPIRE FUTURE LEADERS WHILE HONORING M STREET'S LEGACY BY ENGAGING LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND CULTURAL PROJECTS.CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING - REJUVENATES THE PERRY CENTER INTO A BLACK CULTURAL SPACE OF EXCELLENCE, ESTABLISHING IT AS A SUSTAINABLE, COMMUNITY-CENTERED MODEL FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 1993.
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.