The Fresno Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To assist individuals in becoming self-sufficient, self-fulfilled and productive members of the community while fostering cultural preservation and promoting cross cultural understanding.
- Income
- $11.3 million
- Spending
- $11.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 113
- Volunteers
- 48
- Highest pay
- $317,645, president & ceo
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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 73% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
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
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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $10.6 million spent. The Organization provides the following programs:Covered California & Medi-California EnrollmentProvides presentations to the general public and private organizations, one-on-one education and key information about the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). This education includes types of health care coverage for families and individuals, such as Medi-Cal or private plans, based on their household size and annual income. We also help individuals and families apply for health care coverage (free of charge), whether they qualify for Medi-Cal or a Covered California plan.California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP)Funded by the Mental Health Services Act of 2004 to provide culturally and linguistically competent prevention and early intervention services. The focus is to create an improved health system that is accessible to all populations, including underserved and vulnerable communities. Our goal is to reduce depression, anxiety, and acculturation issues in Hmong adults and elders by improving their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being and increasing their knowledge/awareness of mental health issues.FUSD Parent UniversityIn partnership with Fresno Unified School District's Parent University program, we help families within the school district through parent learning courses, navigate available resources, engage families to achieve career ready graduates, and connect families to the district and their community to guide them to improve student achievement. Holistic Cultural & Education Wellness CenterA program of Fresno Countys Department of Behavioral Health through the Mental Health Service Act provides culturally and linguistically appropriate education, training, and linkage services to un-served and underserved individuals and groups who may typically not seek traditional Western (clinically based) mental health services. We are staffed with diverse Cultural Brokers who speak Spanish, Hmong, Lao, Khmer, Hindi, Punjabi, and English.Horticultural Therapeutic Community CentersA program that enhances existing community gardens as a platform for peer and mental health support and engagement, on matters that relate to the participants' mental well-being through activities in traditionally and culturally relevant environments in unserved and underserved suburban and rural communities.Immigration ServicesThe Fresno Center (TFC) has over 10 years of experience in providing immigration assistance especially in naturalization services. TFC provides citizenship classes in four different languages - Khmer, Lao, Hmong, and Spanish. TFCs naturalization services are free of charge. TFC also assists clients in applying for a fee waiver or reduced fee upon qualification and requested by the clients. Additionally, TFC provides access to free legal services for those who seek naturalization services at TFC.Latino & Southeast Asian NavigatorThe goal of this program is to help improve and promote service delivery to Latino and Southeast Asian speaking individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. By reducing barriers to service utilization in the Fresno and Merced Counties through improving understanding of, access to engagement with, and improved utilization of Central Valley Regional Center (CVRC) and generic services.Living Well CenterThe Living Well Center is an organizational provider with the Fresno County Mental Health Plan to provide culturally competent and linguistically accessible outpatient specialty mental health services. It is staffed with culturally and linguistically capable and qualified mental health practitioners and staff to provide outpatient specialty mental health services to Southeast Asian (SEA) consumers with mild to moderate mentally ill conditions. In addition, LWC maintains a mental health clinical training program for SEA post-master interns and graduate students. The purpose of the training program is to increase the number of licensed SEA mental health professionals to provide culturally and linguistic mental health services for those who are of Hmong, Laotian, Vietnamese or Cambodian descents.Southeast Asian (SEA) Young Adult Empowerment & Advocacy ProjectThe Young Adult Empowerment and Advocacy Project promotes empowerment and advocacy in Southeast Asian families for leadership roles as well as provide educational information on civic engagement and policies. In addition, the program advocates for better quality healthcare services to low income Medi-Cal recipients and provides United States Citizenship education classes for participants with a goal of becoming a naturalized citizen. We also provide services in assisting Southeast Asians to apply for their immigration or U.S. Citizenship application(s).Building Healthy Community Southeast Asian (SEA) Parent Engagement ProjectThe Projects goal is to help improve educational opportunities for Southeast Asian (Hmong, Lao, Cambodian) students and families, within Fresno Unified School District, through family engagement and empowerment. The framework of this project is to increase the awareness of Southeast Asian parents by engaging them in their children's academic achievements and advocate for a positive and productive environment of a school setting to support students towards graduation.Team & ChangesThe Telecommunications Education and Assistance in Multiple-languages (TEAM) program provides educational workshops and informational materials for consumer protection, as identified in the California Public Utilities Commission (CPU), under the CPU's Telecommunications Consumer Protection Initiative (CPI). As part of the program, we help assist consumers with resources or disputes.The Community Help and Awareness of Natural Gas and Electricity Services (CHANGES) program assists consumers with natural gas and electricity education and resources. The program includes advocating and assistance with negotiating payments and finding resources for the consumer. Volunteer & Interns
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.