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St Martin Iberia Lafayette Parishes Community Action Agency

EIN 72-0648848 · Lafayette, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SMILE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY SERVES AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR COMMUNITY NEEDS PROGRAMS WITH A FOCUS ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY, THE BETTERMENT OF ALL DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS, CHILDREN AND FAMILITIES THAT WE ENCOUNTER.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
36
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$166,171, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 48% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 May 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 (5)
  1. $5.7 million spent. HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROVIDES DIRECT UTILITY PAYMENTS TO HOME ENERGY SUPPLIERS ON BEHALF OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS PARTICULARLY THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED.IN THIS FISCAL YEAR 14,690 CLIENTS WERE ASSISTED WITH THEIR UTILITY BILLS
  2. $1.2 million spent. THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (CSBG) PROVIDES VARIOUS DIRECT PROGRAM SERVICES TO THE NEEDY AND DEFRAYS A PORTION OF THE AGENCY'S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
  3. $348,439 spent. TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION FOR PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR DESIGNATED CHILDREN. ALSO PROVIDES FUNDS TO THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM TO HELP PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE UNDERPRIVILEGED.
  4. $160,833 spent. LOCAL PROGRAMSPROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS FOR FOOD, SHELTER, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT,COMPUTER TRAINING, RENT AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
  5. EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM- US DEPT OF TREASURYTO PROVIDE RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AFFECTED BY COVID 19. IN THIS FISCAL YEAR 0 CLIENTS WERE PROVIDED ASSISTANCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 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 May 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 May 1969.

    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.