Caritas of Waco
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY/SUPPLEMENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, UTILITY, RENT AND MORTGAGE AID TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN THE WACO COMMUNITY.ALSO PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WANTING TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AND ELIMINATE THEIR NEED FOR ASSISTANCE.
- Income
- $13.1 million
- Spending
- $13.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 53
- Volunteers
- 2,368
- Highest pay
- $82,645, executive director
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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
- $11.7 million spent. HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS DISTRIBUTION:CARITAS HAS AN ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WAL-MART RETURN CENTER IN WACO. THROUGH THIS ARRANGEMENT, CARITAS RECEIVES ITEMS RETURNED TO WAL-MART (ITEMS WHICH SUPPLIERS DID NOT WISH TO RECEIVE BACK) AND DISTRIBUTES THEM TO OTHER CHARITIES AND NON-PROFIT SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. SUCH ITEMS CONSIST MOSTLY OF PAPER PRODUCTS SUCH AS TOILET PAPER, PAPER TOWELS, AND DIAPERS, AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS. CARITAS CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTES THESE PRODUCTS TO OVER 200 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN NEED HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM.
- $624,479 spent. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE:CARITAS PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH FOOD, CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, UTILITIES, RENT AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, AND LODGING ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS TO PEOPLE IN NEED. THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF SUCH ASSISTANCE IS FOR FOOD WITH CARITAS AIDING AN AVERAGE OF 2100 FAMILIES A MONTH WITH THIS SERVICE.
- $296,975 spent. THRIFT STORE:CARITAS OPERATES A RESALE STORE IN THE WACO AREA. THIS STORE PROVIDE CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS FREE OF CHARGE UPON REFERRAL FROM CARITAS INTERVIEWERS AND VERY REASONABLY PRICED, QUALITY CLOTHING AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO PERSONS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THESE ARTICLES BECAUSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS. THE STORE ALSO OFFERS EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS DESIROUS OF WORKING IN A SERVICE ORIENTED, NON-PROFIT SETTING. THE STORE SELLS DONATED MERCHANDISE ONLY.
- $448,960 spent. SNAP OUTREACH AND CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
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