Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $7.7 million
- Spending
- $6.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 175
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $218,023, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 2520 of 20 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 June 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 (4)
- $1.7 million spent. YOUTH POLICY MAKING COUNCILS- MIKVA'S YOUTH POLICY MAKING COUNCILS EMPOWER HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH IN EACH OF OUR CHAPTER SITES TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON KEY ISSUES IN THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CITY GOVERNMENT. COUNCIL PARTICIPANTS THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY LEADERS AND OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PARTNER WITH THEM ON IMPLEMENTATION AND ONGOING EVALUATION.
- $1.7 million spent. CURRICULA, COACHING AND EVENT SUPPORT FOR CIVIC EDUCATORS-MIKVA'S TEACHER-FACING WORK PROVIDES EDUCATORS IN ITS CHAPTER AND PARTNER SITES WITH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CURRICULA, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COACHING, AND SUPPORT TO ORGANIZE LOCAL EVENTS FOR YOUTH IN THEIR SCHOOL OR DISTRICT. COLLECTIVELY, THESE SUPPORTS HELP TEACHERS TRANSFORM THEIR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS INTO SPACES IN WHICH YOUTH BUILD COMMUNITY WITH AND DEVELOP EMPATHY FOR THEIR PEERS; DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS; PRACTICE COLLABORATION; AND TAKE INFORMED ACTION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT MOST.
- $539,527 spent. NATIONAL YOUTH CIVIC COVENINGS-AS MIKVA CONTINUES TO EXPAND TO SERVE YOUTH IN MORE CITIES ACROSS AMERICA, OUR NATIONAL YOUTH CIVIC CONVENINGS (SUCH AS SOAPBOX NATION AND OUR YOUTH SUMMIT) BRING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER TO SHARE THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES, LEARN FROM AND DEVELOP EMPATHY FOR EACH OTHER, AND WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP PLANS TO CREATE CHANGE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES ONCE THEY RETURN HOME.
- $425,622 spent. PUBLIC SERVICE INTERNSHIPS-MIKVA'S SUMMER FELLOWS PROGRAM PROVIDES YOUTH WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SIX WEEKS WORKING IN THE OFFICES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS & OTHER KEY POLITICAL LEADERS. IT IS A PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT HELPS YOUTH GAIN REAL-WORLD PUBLIC SECTOR WORK EXPERIENCES THAT ARE OFTEN OTHERWISE INACCESSIBLE AND BRINGS YOUTH VOICE DIRECTLY INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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