Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Latin American Association Inc

EIN 58-1237316 · Atlanta, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LAA EMPOWERS LATINOS TO ADAPT, INTEGRATE AND THRIVE BY PROVIDING RESOURCES SUCH AS FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, ECONOMIC PROGRAMS, A LATINA ENTREPRENEURAL PROGRAM AS WELL AS YOUTH MENTORING AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$10.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 39%
Employees
145
Volunteers
1,400
Highest pay
$202,508, ceo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 62% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
  1. $8.2 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1972 TO SERVE ATLANTA'S THEN-EMERGING LATINO POPULATION, THE LAA HAS GROWN TO BECOME GEORGIA'S LEADING AGENCY REPRESENTING LATINO ISSUES. WITH OVER HALF A CENTURY OF SUCCESS IN AND AROUND THE BUSTLING METROPOLIS OF ATLANTA, THE LAA IS THE LARGEST, MOST TRUSTED AND ONLY FULLY BILINGUAL AGENCY IN THE REGION DEDICATED PRIMARILY TO THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY.THE LAA PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE MENU OF SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND LEGAL SERVICES AND IMPACTS OVER 25,000 INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR. DURING FY25, THE LAA DELIVERED OVER 60,000 PROGRAMMATIC SERVICES TO EMPOWER OUR CLIENTS, HELPING THEM ADAPT, INTEGRATE AND THRIVE.PROGRAMS INCLUDE:FAMILY STABILIZATION AND WELL-BEING: THIS PROGRAMMATIC PILLAR FOCUSES ON FOSTERING STABLE, HEALTHY LATINO FAMILIES THROUGH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AGING AND DISABILITY INFORMATION AND REFERRAL PROGRAM, LATINO BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM, VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE PROGRAM, AND PUBLIC BENEFIT ENROLLMENT.ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: WE ARE EMPOWERING LATINOS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITH PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE WORKFORCE TRAINING, LATINA ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASSES, SPANISH AND ENGLISH SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, TRANSLATION SERVICES, ONLINE JOB BANKS, MICRO LOANS, CAREER EXPOS, AND CORPORATE RECRUITMENT EVENTS.IMMIGRATION SERVICES: THE LAA OFFERS AFFORDABLE LEGAL SERVICES TO HELP ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS OBTAIN IMMIGRATION BENEFITS. SERVICES INCLUDE PROVIDING GENERAL IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR VICTIMS, REMOVAL DEFENSE LEGAL SERVICES AND PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS PROGRAMS.YOUTH SERVICES: WE ARE FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING LATINO YOUTH TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS WITH A BROAD SET OF PROGRAMS. THE LATINO YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, LATINO YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (LYLA), HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ADVISING SESSIONS, LATINO YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM, LYLA SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND LATINO COLLEGE RESOURCES EACH SERVE TO ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS FOR LATINO YOUTH IN GEORGIA.CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY: CONNECTING AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY. WE FURTHER THAT EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AWARENESS, WITH ACTIVITIES BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE THAT INCLUDE CULTURAL AND LARGE-SCALE SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE ANNUAL LATIN FEVER BALL, COMPAEROS AWARDS LUNCHEON, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CAMPAIGN; CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM; MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM; AND LATINO COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 April 1977.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: American Heart Association Inc (Dallas, TX), EIN 13-5613797. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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