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Conga Kids

EIN 81-3419904 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROMOTES SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES THROUGH DANCE AND MUSIC.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
28.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
114
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$368,029, executive director/secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $2.5 million spent. FOUNDED IN 2016 BY BRAD GLUCKSTEIN, CONGA KIDS IS A NONPROFIT ARTS EDUCATION ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND ADVANCING INCLUSIVE PRACTICES THROUGH DANCE, MUSIC, AND MOVEMENT. ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO JOYFUL, CULTURALLY RELEVANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES, CONGA KIDS INTEGRATES ARTISTIC EXPRESSION WITH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT-PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SOCIALLY.CONGA KIDS' CURRICULUM IS GROUNDED IN CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PEDAGOGY AND HIGHLIGHTS DIASPORIC DANCE TRADITIONS, INCLUDING SALSA, MERENGUE, CUMBIA, AUTHENTIC JAZZ (CHARLESTON), HIP-HOP, AND REGGAETN. THESE ART FORMS SERVE AS BOTH A CREATIVE OUTLET AND A FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHING DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND CULTURAL AWARENESS. COMPLEMENTING ITS DANCE PROGRAMMING, THE ORGANIZATION'S SPORTS-BASED CURRICULUM INCORPORATES MOVEMENT, RHYTHM, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION TO REINFORCE COORDINATION, COLLABORATION, AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH PRACTICAL SEL STRATEGIES IN A FUN, ENGAGING, AND ACCESSIBLE FORMAT THAT RESONATES ACROSS DIVERSE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.ALL INSTRUCTION IS DELIVERED BY A CAREFULLY SELECTED TEAM OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHING ARTISTS AND PROGRAM STAFF WHO UNDERGO RIGOROUS TRAINING IN CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, AND STANDARDS-BASED ARTS INSTRUCTION PRIOR TO ENTERING THE CLASSROOM. THIS ENSURES PROGRAM CONSISTENCY, INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY, AND ALIGNMENT WITH EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES. CONGA KIDS' MODEL EMPHASIZES STRUCTURE, ENGAGEMENT, AND POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, CREATING SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE STUDENTS CAN THRIVE.CONGA KIDS PARTNERS WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY, ORANGE COUNTY, AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, DELIVERING PROGRAMMING DIRECTLY AT SCHOOL SITES DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY AND IN EXPANDED LEARNING SETTINGS. CURRENT DISTRICT PARTNERS INCLUDE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (LAUSD), LENNOX, WEST COVINA, ROSEMEAD SCHOOL DISTRICT, INGLEWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, MOUNTAIN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT, EL MONTE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, HACIENDA LA PUENTE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, POMONA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, ANAHEIM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, BALDWIN PARK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, GLENDALE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, GARVEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, VISTA CHARTER, SAN BERNARDINO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ABC UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.AS OF 2025, CONGA KIDS IS ACTIVELY SERVING 217 PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS 23 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, REACHING APPROXIMATELY 60,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY-MANY OF WHOM COME FROM LOW-INCOME AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS, CONGA KIDS NOT ONLY EXPANDS ACCESS TO ARTS EDUCATION, BUT ALSO STRENGTHENS SCHOOL CULTURE, SUPPORTS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, AND CONTRIBUTES TO IMPROVED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL OUTCOMES AT SCALE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.