Casi Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 49% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE CHILI AND RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY. CHILI APPRECIATION SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL, INC (CASI) SANCTIONS COOKOFFS AT WHICH FUNDS ARE RAISED FOR CHARITIES. WE HOST AN ANNUAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR QUALIFYING COOKS, AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROVIDE GRANTS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $178,754
- Spending
- $198,062
- Spent on programs
- 49%
- Reserves
- 15 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 600
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1549% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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.
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, 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 (3)
- $31,225 spent. ASSISTANCE TO DOMESTIC ORGANIZATIONS. CASI MAKES GRANTS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS, CHARITABLE AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA OF THE COOKOFF, AS THE AREA IS A LOW INCOME COMMUNITY.
- $66,418 spent. ASSISTANCE TO DOMESTIC INDIVIDUALS. CASI GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS ON A NATIONAL BASIS CURRENTLY PROVIDING $1,000 PER YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS TO APPROXIMATELY 30 STUDENTS. AT THE FIRST BOARD MEETING OF EACH FISCAL YEAR, THE BOARD AUTHORIZES THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO BE GRANTED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. IN 2025, 7 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED WHICH INCLUDES ONE SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE VALEDICTORIAN AND THE SALUTATORIAN OF THE TERLINGUA HIGH SCHOOL AND 2 TRADE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS. A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS CAN BE APPLIED FOR BY ANY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING STUDENT. THE APPLICATION FORM IS POSTED ON THE CASI WEBSITE. APPLICANTS MUST FILL OUT THE APPLICATION AND MAIL IT TO THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN. THE APPLICATIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO REVIEW THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN RANK THEM IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY BELIEVE THE SCHOLARSHIPS SHOULD BE GRANTED. THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN THEN TABULATES THE RESULTS FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS.
- CASI PRODUCES A MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER THAT INFORMS THE MEMBERS OF UPCOMING COOKOFFS, COOKOFF RESULTS AND OTHER HAPPENINGS IN THE CHILI WORLD. OCCASIONALLY PRINTING AND POSTAGE EXPENSES OCCUR. REVENUES ARE FROM THE SALE OF ADVERTISING SPACE FOR COOKOFFS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on September 15, 2013.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 2025.
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 December 2013.
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 November 4, 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.