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Cafe Puente

EIN 83-2476505 · Petaluma, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CAFÉ PUENTE IS TO CULTIVATE A MULTICULTURAL CENTER IN SPANISH WHERE LATIN CULTURES ARE CELEBRATED, AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

Income
$590,272
Spending
$455,389
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
7
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$120,477, co-executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 455% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 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. $69,186 spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM: CAFÉ PUENTE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM, PUENTECITOS, PROVIDES CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING FOR LATINX FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-5. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES SPANISH-LANGUAGE PLAYGROUPS, STORY TIMES, CAREGIVER CONNECTION SPACES, AND FAMILY-CENTERED WELLNESS ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND COMMUNITY BELONGING. PUENTECITOS CREATES A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CAREGIVERS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, ACCESS RESOURCES, AND STRENGTHEN PARENTING CONFIDENCE WHILE CHILDREN ENGAGE IN DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LEARNING AND SOCIALIZATION. THE PROGRAM ALSO HELPS REDUCE ISOLATION AMONG FAMILIES BY FOSTERING CONSISTENT COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND PEER SUPPORT.
  2. $58,595 spent. DANCE PROGRAM: CAFÉ PUENTE'S DANCE PROGRAM, LATIDOS, OFFERS CULTURALLY ROOTED MOVEMENT AND PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ADULTS. CLASSES INCLUDE URBAN DANCE, LATIN DANCE, AND COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROMOTE CULTURAL PRIDE, SELF-EXPRESSION, CONFIDENCE, AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS. THE PROGRAM CREATES ACCESSIBLE ARTS EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN SPANISH FOR LATINX PARTICIPANTS WHO MAY OTHERWISE FACE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION IN TRADITIONAL ARTS PROGRAMS. THROUGH PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, PARTICIPANTS STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP SKILLS, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND CELEBRATE LATIN AMERICAN CULTURES THROUGH DANCE AND MOVEMENT.
  3. $55,731 spent. YOUTH PROGRAM: CAFÉ PUENTE'S YOUTH PROGRAM, PUENTISTAS, SUPPORTS LATINX YOUTH THROUGH CULTURALLY AFFIRMING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, MENTORSHIP, WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM CREATES SAFE SPACES WHERE YOUTH CAN BUILD CONFIDENCE, STRENGTHEN CULTURAL IDENTITY, DEVELOP SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, AND FORM SUPPORTIVE PEER CONNECTIONS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE GROUP GATHERINGS, CREATIVE PROJECTS, WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH VOICE AND LEADERSHIP. PUENTISTAS AIMS TO REDUCE ISOLATION AND INCREASE BELONGING BY PROVIDING YOUTH WITH CONSISTENT ACCESS TO TRUSTED MENTORS AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
  4. $149,871 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS: OTHER GENERAL SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 2019.

    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.