Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 30% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
EDUCATE AND PRESERVE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AS WELL AS ADVANCE ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE IN THE PORTUGUESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY. PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE STUDENTS. HELP TO PROMOTE AMERICAN CIVICS LIKE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CENSUS TO AMERICANS OF PORTUGUESE HERITAGE.
- Income
- $179,011
- Spending
- $147,164
- Spent on programs
- 30%
- Reserves
- 15.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1530% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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.
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, 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 (2)
- $18,000 spent. THE PALCUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING PORTUGUESE-AMERICAN STUDENTS IN THE PURSUIT OF THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION GOALS. THE MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO STUDENTS OF PORTUGUESE ANCESTRY WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THEIR ACADEMIC CAREERS AND WHO SHOW A COMMITMENT TO COMPLETING AN APPROVED PLAN OF STUDY. PALCUS GIVES OUT TWO SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE GRADUATE CATEGORY AND TWO IN THE UNDERGRADUATE CATEGORY TO STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.ALEXANDRE ANTNIO DA COSTA SIMOES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:IN 2019 A NEW SCHOLARSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED IN MEMORY OF ALEXANDRE ANTONIO DA COSTA SIMOES, THE INFANT SON OF PALCUS CHAIR, ANGELA COSTA SIMOES AND HER HUSBAND, WHO PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY. THE SCHOLARSHIP WAS FUNDED 100% BY THE GENEROSITY OF PALCUS MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MADE DONATIONS IN HONOR OF ALEXANDRE'S MEMORY. THIS MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIP WILL BE GIVEN TO A STUDENT WHO IS STUDYING THE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE OR CULTUREDUQUE DE BRAGANA SCHOLARSHIP:IN 2022 THE NEW DUQUE DE BRAGANA SCHOLARSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED. THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS DONATION OF CHRISTOPHER ST. VICTOR-DE PINHO AND IS INTENDED FOR STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE AN INTEREST IN PORTUGUESE HISTORY.GRACIETTE MARIA SIMAO ROSA SCHOLARSHIP FUND:THE ROSA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE LOVING MEMORY OF GRACIETTE MARIA SIMAO ROSA AWARDED TO A STUDENT FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
- $25,714 spent. THE HERITAGE PORTUGAL PROGRAM INVITES PORTUGUESE-AMERICANS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-35, FOR AN IMMERSION PROGRAM IN PORTUGAL. THE IMMERSION IS IN PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE ELEMENTS: IN PORTUGUESE CULTURE AND ROOTS, THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE COUNTRY, AND ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES. THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM IS A NEW AND REINFORCED SPIRIT OF BELONGING, RELATIONSHIPS, AND ENERGY COMING OUT OF THE SENSE OF OUR COMMON HERITAGE. BEYOND THIS ALSO WILL COME NEW IDEAS, CREATIVITY, INVESTMENT, CONNECTIVITY, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YEARS AND GENERATIONS TO COME
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
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 2024.
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 March 1992.
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.