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Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention & Treatment Inc

EIN 65-0683088 · Coral Gables, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MELISSA INSTITUTE IS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AND PROMOTE SAFER COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND THE APPLICATION OF RESEARCH-BASED KNOWLEDGE.

Income
$257,062
Spending
$266,791
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
26.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
4
Volunteers
3

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 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)
  1. MAY CONFERENCE-THE INSTITUTE'S 28TH ANNIVERSARY ANNUAL CONFERENCE WAS OFFERED VIRTUALLY. THE TITLE OF THE CONFERENCE WAS "GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION: WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW". ETIONY ALDARONDO, PH.D., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MELISSA INSTITUTE AND RENOWNED VIOLENCE PREVENTION SCHOLAR SERVED AS COURSE DIRECTOR. NILO CUERVO, ESQ., JACLYN SCHILDKRAUT, PH.D., ALEX R. PIQUERO, PH.D., WAYNE RAWLINS, M.S., NICK WILSON, MPP., AND REV. CHARLES L. DINKINS, MBA. WERE THE PRESENTERS.
  2. INNOVATIONS IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERIES WAS DELIVERED ONLINE. THE SERIES INCLUDED COURSES ON INNOCENCE INTERRUPTED: HOW GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AFFECTS CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM OBSERVATION TO IMPACT TO SOLUTIONS BY LEENA AUGIMERI, PH.D. AND DEBRA PEPLER,O.C., PH.D., WHAT HELPS KIDS & TEENS OVERCOME TRAUMA? THE RESILIENCE EQUATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY SHERRY HAMBY, PH.D., AND FROM BELIEFS TO ACTS: UNDERSTANDING THE CATALYSTS OF CONSPIRACY-INSPIRED VIOLENCE BY DANIEL JOLLEY, PH.D.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 December 1996.

    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.

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.