Fundacion Cortes Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES
- Income
- $688,307
- Spending
- $754,326
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 5
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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 101% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 6 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $415,333 spent. Promote educational and artistic activities for the general public and to promote Caribbean art and culture through education. All the Organizations activities are aimed at raising funds to enable it to accomplish its educational goals. In addition the major educational programs and activities conducted by the Organization are: . Educa Cortes - provides educational programs leading to increased appreciation of art to complement academic standards and expectations on all school subjects and or requested themes, and to provide healing through art activities. This is accomplished through educational workshops, both for adults and school age youth. . Afternoons of Art and Music - programs for the development of appreciation for varied expressions of Caribbean music and instruments. . Cortes Summer Art Workshops for Youth-mosaic, drawing, engraving, painting, and digital filmmaking summer workshops for 8-17 year old students. . Educa Cortes: The Art of Wellness and Mental Health-through this new programmatic element, the Organization integrates many forms of arts to promote the values that it believes must be prioritized in Puerto Rico; education, culture, passion, sense of responsibility, self-sufficiency, dignity, identity and social justice.
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 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 December 2024.
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 September 2015.
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.
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.