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Passes our checks

Project Vida

EIN 74-2481679 · El Paso, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak37 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROJECT VIDA IS A FAITH-BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE MISSION OF PROJECT VIDA IS TO IDENTIFY THE COMPREHENSIVE VISION OF THE COMMUNITY FOR ITS FUTURE AND TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY-BASED STRUCTURES AND PROGRAMS TO IMPLEMENT THAT VISION IN LIGHT OF THE NEEDS AND DIRECTION OF THE WIDER SOCIETY. PROJECT VIDA HAS ADDRESSED ALL OF THESE ISSUES BY BUILDING AFFORDABLE LOW-INCOME RENTAL HOUSING; BUILDING CLINICS AND PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, LOW COST HEALTHCARE; CREATING A HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RECOVERY PROGRAM; DEVELOPING A BEST PRACTICE, CURRICULUM-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM; OFFERING DYNAMIC AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT; AND PROVIDING MICROENTERPRISE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
14
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$15,607, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Weak: 37 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 August 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 (4)
  1. $444,182 spent. HOMELESS PREVENTION AND RECOVERY PROGRAM - PROVIDES COUNSELING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDES UP TO 24 MONTHS OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND RESIDENCY IN APARTMENTS FOR FAMILIES NEEDING TO RECOVER FROM HOMELESSNESS.
  2. $591,118 spent. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION PROGRAM - COMMUNITY COLLABORATION PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES TO OTHER AFFILIATED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDES OUTREACH HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES BOTH DIRECTLY AND WITH OTHER COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATIONS.
  3. $534,154 spent. HOUSING (APARTMENT) PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, PROJECT VIDA ACQUIRED 8 HOMES WITH THE PURPOSE OF REHABILATING THEM AND SELLING THEM TO LOW AND LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.
  4. $1.6 million spent. EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN FOR CHILDREN FROM AGE SIX TO EIGHTEEN, INCLUDING GANG PREVENTION, TUTORS, COMPUTER ACCESS, ARTS, CRAFTS, AND TIME FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025,PROJECT VIDA RECEIVED AN IN-KIND DONATION OF A PROPERTY FORMERLY USED AS A PARISH FROM THE TRES RIOS PRESBYTERY, TO BE USED TO EXPAND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM - THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER HAS APPROXIMATELY 75 SLOTS WHERE LICENSED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN FROM NEWBORN TO AGE TWELVE. NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM HELPS REBUILD COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGES AND FORECLOSURES.PROJECT VIDA'S MICROENTERPRISE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MTAP) ENCOURAGES BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC EXPANSION THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF EL PASO, EL PASO COUNTY, AND HUDSPETH COUNTY. THE CITY AND COUNTY OF EL PASO, LOCAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND PUBLIC AGENCIES PROVIDE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR MTAP. THERE IS NO COST TO MICROENTERPRISE OWNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 July 1989.

    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.