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Mi Oaxaca

EIN 61-2140689 · Petaluma, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MI OAXACA PRESERVES OAXACA'S INDIGENOUS CULTURES AND FOOD TRADITIONS THROUGH RESEARCH, NARRATIVE CHANGE, CULTURAL EDUCATION, AND COMPATIBLE COLLABORATION ACROSS BORDERS.

Income
$340,525
Spending
$188,438
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
2
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$79,833, board presid

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 45% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $86,245 spent. CULTURAL EDUCATION & TRAINING: MI OAXACA TRANSMITS INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, SCIENCE, AND PRACTICES THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, COMMUNITY-CENTERED LEARNING. OUR PROGRAMS CREATE SPACE FOR SHARED KNOWLEDGE-BUILDING AROUND CULTURAL PRESERVATION, FOOD JUSTICE, AND EQUITABLE FUTURES-OFFERED THROUGH MIXED LEARNING MODELS THAT EXPAND AS OUR COMMUNITY GROWS. CURRENT AND FUTURE PROGRAMMING INCLUDES COURSES, TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND TOOLS THAT SUPPORT CULTURALLY RESPONSIBLE ENGAGEMENT WITH OAXACAN FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRADITIONS.
  2. $57,497 spent. NARRATIVE CHANGE & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: MI OAXACA ADDRESSES CULTURAL APPROPRIATION AND INDIGENOUS ERASURE BY CENTERING OAXACAN VOICES, KNOWLEDGE, AND LIVED REALITIES. THROUGH RESEARCH, STORYTELLING, CONVENINGS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE SHAPE HOW OAXACA'S INDIGENOUS CULTURES AND FOOD TRADITIONS ARE UNDERSTOOD AND VALUED - BY INDUSTRIES, INSTITUTIONS, AND THE PUBLIC. PROGRAMMING TAKES MULTIPLE FORMS AND EVOLVES IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY NEED.
  3. FULL PURPOSE STATEMENT: MI OAXACA PRESERVES OAXACA'S INDIGENOUS CULTURES AND FOOD TRADITIONS- BEGINNING WITH MEZCAL-THROUGH RESEARCH, NARRATIVE CHANGE, CULTURAL EDUCATION, AND COMPATIBLE COLLABORATION ACROSS BORDERS. WE ADDRESS THE ERASURE AND ECONOMIC INEQUITIES CREATED BY EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES, RETURNING RECOGNITION AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITIES WHOSE KNOWLEDGE AND LANDS MAKE THEM POSSIBLE.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.