Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

St Marys Center

EIN 68-0172229 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND PRESCHOOLERS IN DOWNTOWN AND WEST OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

Income
$8.8 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
56
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$191,522, executive director

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

Strong: 96 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 100% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. SENIOR HOUSING SERVICES: SENIORS FIND AN ADVOCATE, CRUCIAL RESOURCES, AND THE WAY HOME WITH ST. MARY'S CENTER SENIOR HOUSING SERVICES. ADULTS 55 YEARS AND OLDER, WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, CAN MEET WITH AN INTAKE WORKER TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY. WE PROVIDE INTAKES INTO ALAMEDA COUNTY'S HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS) AND COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM (CES.) THROUGH HMIS AND CES, ST. MARY'S CENTER CAN TRACK SERVICES PROVIDED BY OTHER AGENCIES AND SUPPORT SENIORS IN ACCESSING URGENT NEEDED SERVICES. CASE MANAGERS WORK WITH CLIENTS TO COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION, INCOME VERIFICATION, HEALTH CARE ACCESS, AND HOUSING APPLICATIONS.
  2. $750,716 spent. PRESCHOOL ST. MARY'S CENTER PRESCHOOL HAS PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED TUITION-FREE PRESCHOOL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. ST. MARY'S CENTER PRESCHOOL IS CERTIFIED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND IS QRIS FIVE STAR RATED FOR QUALITY. ST. MARY'S PRESCHOOL OPERATES 5 DAYS A WEEK ALL YEAR, AND HAS BEEN WELL RECOGONIZED FOR ITS SUMMER SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAMMING. ST. MARY'S CENTER PRESCHOOL IS LICENSED FOR 30 CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 3 AND 5.
  3. $685,510 spent. TRADITIONAL HOUSING: SENIORS 55 AND OLDER TAKE THE NEXT STEP ON THEIR JOURNEY TO A PERMANENT HOME THROUGH ST. MARY'S CENTER'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS HAVE INDIVIDUAL ROOMS, AND SHARE BATHROOMS, KITCHENS, AND COMMON AREAS. MONTHLY PROGRAM FEES ARE CAPPED AT 30% OF INCOME. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SHELTERED WHILE ACTIVELY SEEKING HOUSING, SECURING DOCUMENTATION, AND PREPARING FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. EVERY SENIOR IS CONNECTED WITH A CASE MANAGER, HOUSING NAVIGATION AND OTHER SUPPORTS. WEEKLY HOUSE MEETINGS AND INDIVIDUAL WORK WITH CASE MANAGERS SUPPORT THE SENIOR'S INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN TO BECOME AND REMAIN HOUSED
  4. $1.2 million spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SERVICES AND ADVACOCY: SENIORS COME TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR A MEAL AND A GAME OF DOMINOES AND FIND THROUGH PARTICIPATING IN OUR SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES THEY STEADILY IMPROVE THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. OLD FRIENDS WHO HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR DECADES REMINISCE. OTHERS REDUCE LONELINESS BY BONDING WITH NEW FRIENDS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR UNHOUSED SENIORS ARE WELCOMED IN FROM THE ELEMENTS WITH A HOT CUP OF COFFEE AND A SMILE. WE BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH OUR SENIOR INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAM, WHICH USES SENIOR FRIENDLY PRACTICES TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND HELP REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC POVERTY. OUR STAFF WORK WITH SENIORS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, CANTONESE, AND TAGALOG TO PERFORM COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS TO IMRPOVE CAPACITY TO PERFORM DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES. WE ADDRESS BARRIERS TO HEALTHY LIVING INCLUDING MEDICAL, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION AND FINANCIAL ISSUES AS WELL AS ADDICTION, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. THE WECONNECT PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO FREE TECHNOLOGY, INTERNET, PERSONALIZED LESSONS AND ONLINE EXPERIENCES WE HELP SENIORS NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF TECHNOLOGY. THE PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO REDUCE ISOLATION BY SAFELY CONNECTING SENIORS TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THEIR ST. MARY'S CENTER COMMUNITY, CREATING NEW CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION VIA ZOOM, TEXTING AND EMAIL.

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 October 1992.

    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: St Marys Medical Center (Duluth, MN), EIN 41-0695604. 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.