Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Dulce Upfront Labs

EIN 83-3322131 · Fresno, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak21 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 345 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSES SET FORTH IN SECTION 501(C)(3) BY DULCE UPFRONT LABS ARE ARTS AND CULTURE, EVENT PRODUCTION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, MULTICULTURAL AND MULTIGENERATIONAL COLLABORATION, MOVEMENT BUILDING AND WORKING WITH LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.

Income
$664,848
Spending
$274,392
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
20 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$48,710, president & ceo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 150% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 345 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

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (5)
  1. $166,557 spent. Expanding Access to Arts and Culture Grant- Dulce Upfront operated as a multi-access cultural hub providing year-round arts, wellness, and community programming for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and working-class communities in Fresno. The organization supported over 80 artists and community projects through mentorship, fiscal sponsorship, and creative development while expanding partnerships with local schools, organizations, and businesses to strengthen Fresnos cultural and creative economy.
  2. $48,761 spent. EAAC 2025 Project Specific Grant - Dulce Upfront expanded access to arts, culture, and community engagement in Fresno through year-round programming, artist development, and creative infrastructure. In 2025, the organization launched St. Dulce, a new cultural hub serving BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and working-class communities while hosting over 50 events and providing mentorship, fiscal sponsorship, and technical assistance to emerging artists and community-led projects.
  3. $28,618 spent. Kresge Grant- Supported general operations for ongoing arts and cultural programming, including arts-based advocacy initiatives. Funding strengthened Dulce Upfronts capacity to provide consistent community-centered creative programming and cultural engagement in Fresno.
  4. $2,000 spent. ARPA Grant - Supported LGBTQ+ and BIPOC arts education and wellness events in the City of Fresno. Funding helped provide inclusive cultural programming, creative engagement opportunities, and community wellness activities for underserved residents.
  5. The California Endowment: Chicano Youth Center Grant- The Chicano Youth Center advanced youth wellness, cultural healing, and community engagement through arts-based programming and culturally responsive education in Californias Central Valley. The program created safe spaces for underserved youth to participate in creative expression, wellness activities, leadership development, and community-building opportunities focused on health equity and cultural empowerment.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2022 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2022.

    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 April 2023.

    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.