Play Cousins Collective
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Play Cousins Collective is a family centered, grassroots organization built by those it serves.Our mission is to build a village around our children.Our four pillars, Community Healing, Caregiver Support, Civic Engagement and Youth Enrichment.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $990,792
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $62,182, executive director
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: 71 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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
Good: 85 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (3)
- $330,107 spent. PLAY COUSINS COLLECTIVE SUCCESSFULLY ENROLLED 79 NEW FAMILES WITH 64 COMPLETING DEVELOPMENT SCREENINGS, A REMARKABLE PARTICIPATION RATE THAT EXCEEDS PROGRAM GOALS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE COLLECTIVE CARE CENTER AT SPALDING UNIVERSITY, THERAPY AND EMOTIONALWELLNESS SUPPORT ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON-SITE AND ALONGSIDE FREE CHILDRENS PROGRAMMING, ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO CARE. THIS INTEGRATION OF HEALING AND CHILDCARE HAS BECOME A MODEL FOR CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, ACCESSIBLE FAMILY SUPPORT.
- $281,380 spent. STRENGHTENED COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND SUSTAINABILITY - THROUGH FRESH FRIDAYS, PLAY COUSINS COLLECTIVE DISTRIBUTED 300 PRODUCE SHARES, HELPING FAMILIES ACCESS FRESH FOOD AND BUILD INTERDEPENDENCE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO MOVED INTO A NEW WEST MARKET STREET LOCATION WITH AN OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE AND BEGAN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE SANKOFA SANCTUARY BUILD-OUT, EXPANDING NATURE-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THE NEW FREEDOM PLAY TRAINING, NOW ELIGIBLE FOR ECE TRIS CREDITS, ITS EQUIPPING EDUCATORS TO ENGAGE MARGINALIZED CHILDEN IN NATURE-BASED, CULTURALLY ROOTED PLAY, A SUSTAINABLE MODEL OF PREVENTION AND GROWTH THAT IS BEING SHARED REGIONALLY.
- $252,379 spent. DEEPENED YOUTH ENGAGEMENET AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - ACROSS PROGRAMS, 764 CHILDREN WERE SERVED THROUGH THE PLAY & LEAN LABS, MIZIZI AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AND CAMP MELANATION, FOSTERING CREATIVITY, CURIOSITY, AND CULTURAL PRIDE. THE JUNIOR IYA PRGRAM AND CTRL THE NARRATIVE INITIATIVE WITH SUPPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE, PREVENTION, PROVIDES TEENAGERS WITH PAID EMPLOYMENT, MENTORSHIP, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO RECLAIM COMMUNITY NARRATIVES. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BECOME PIPELINES FOR LEADERSHIP AND PEER MENTORSHIP AMONG YOUTH IN WEST LOUISVILLE.
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 January 2018.
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.