Marguerite Kiefer Education Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Marguerite Kiefer Education Center's Rising TIDE Education and Development Program for Urban Children & Youth uplifts, develops and empowers young people, rooted in downtown Long Beach, through academic support, cultural enrichment, healthy relationship-building, nutritional support and recreational programming.
- Income
- $533,613
- Spending
- $593,148
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 86
- Highest pay
- $99,394, executive dir.
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (6)
- $146,737 spent. Health & Wellness - Children and youth 2.5 - 19 years of age. 1. Both virtually and in-person, we emphasize Health and Wellness by promoting physical activity, teaching skills needed to make healthy choices, and encouraging behavior that fosters wellness to approximately 100 young people weekly. Also, groceries are given to Rising TIDE families in need of food through twice-weekly food distributions, and additionally upon request. 2. 'Fill the Gap' is our official fundraising program to address health and wellness needs beyond structured Rising TIDE programming (for example, to deal with food & tech challenges at home). 3. We strive to weave health and wellness into all the classes we offer, whether in the summer or throughout the year, in creative ways to make the biggest impact in young people's lives. For instance, we addressed mental health while studying Olympians Simone Biles and Michael Phelps. The entire summer program - including reading - incorporated movement and healthy themed snacks.
- $124,012 spent. Guided Learning - Children and youth 2.5 - 19 years of age. 1. We offer tutoring to interested children and youth, Mon - Thurs through our 1-on-1 tutoring program. Young people are tutored at least once a week, with some choosing to be tutored four times a week, either in-person or virtually. Homework help, reading assistance, school supplies and tech resources are provided (so no student is left behind). Over 100 students are supported by our efforts each week. 2. Our lending library, with nearly 10,000 titles, is a great resource for young people. 3. Seminar-style classes are offered in-person each summer with a virtual participation option. In 2024, two 1-week reading sessions were held in the morning, Mon - Thurs. Our focus was on the Olympic games. Therefore, our reading opportunities featured inspiring stories about Olympians. New books and necessary supplies were provided so that young people could fully participate. 4. World Awareness classes were also offered in two 1-week morning sessions. These sessions focused on the host cities and countries then and now, as well as what was going on in the world at the time the Olympics were being hosted.
- $93,782 spent. Life Skills - Children and youth 2.5 - 19 years of age. 1. Our Life Skills program reaches over 100 young people each week. Instruction includes how to interact with others, share, manage money, manage conflict and prepare tasty and safe food - all with the goal of helping young people apply their learned skills at and beyond Rising TIDE. 2. Classes were offered for two 1-week sessions during the summer. Young people learned how to eat like an athlete (and prepare the food), as well as act like an athlete (learning different sports, good sportsmanship, and how to have healthy movement).
- $61,977 spent. STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Math - Children and youth 2.5 - 19 years of age. 1. Monday through Thursday, the STEM lab is a place for scientific discovery, experimentation and application of STEM knowledge. 2. About 40 different young people stop by each week to check things out and embrace experimentation. If there is a demand for virtual science offerings, we adapt the program so that virtual students can also participate in experimentation with staff through clubs, instruction, homework assistance and, as needed, supplies delivered to their home. Supplies are provided to both those in-person and joining from home, to give all equal opportunity. 3. Math and Science seminar-style classes were offered as part of the Summer, 2024 programming for two 1-week morning sessions. The Olympics came alive as young people learned about athletes' diet and nutrition, built sports equipment, created models of sports venues, and learned about the science behind sports performance.
- $60,792 spent. The Arts - Children and youth 2.5 - 19 years of age. 1. We provide instruction to foster positive expression through the arts. We reach over 100 students weekly through art classes, by weaving art into non-art focused classes and distributing holiday kits. Supplies are always provided to allow full participation whether participating in-person or virtually. 2. Our Arts intensive program, Music Arts Drama Dance Incorporating New Creativity (MADD INC) gave under-served young people opportunities to delve deeper into a variety of artistic expression over two separate 1-week sessions. These sessions had an Olympic twist (e.g. drawing and painting sports figures, sports equipment, and scenes with sports in action).
- $52,802 spent. Specialized Programs - Children and youth 2.5 - 19 years of age. 1. Over 100 young people learn about cooperation, participate in healthy play and build an ethical foundation for their lives through specialized offerings each week. Programs range from Bible study to non-religious alternatives like emotional health, fair play, addressing racial injustice, and building a moral/ethical compass for living. All our programs are offered in-person and virtually, upon request. 2. For youth, 6th through 12th grade, we offer girls G.L.O.W. 'Girls Leading Our World and boys 'Boys 2 Men', both of which promote personal development. 3. Specialized classes were offered during the summer for two 1-week sessions that taught ethical and good sportsmanship through Bible stories and those of Olympians, while learning about nine different Olympic sports. The theme was 'Play Ball'.
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 February 2007.
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.
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.