Mara Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $247,050
- Spending
- $272,611
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 31 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
0 of 250 of 2 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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, 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 (2)
- $102,814 spent. THE JANUARY 2025 EVENT - CASA MAJANI PUNTA DE MITA IN MEXICOSET WITHIN AN ISOLATED VILLA COMPOUND IN THE MEXICAN COUNTRYSIDE, THE JANUARY 2025 JERICHO EVENT IS A WEEK-LONG WELLBEING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT RETREAT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR YOUNG ARTISTS WORKING IN LITERATURE, FILM, ART, MUSIC, AND BEYOND USING CREATIVITY TO UNLOCK CONFIDENCE. BY HOSTING SESSIONS WHICH GATHER YOUNG CREATIVES TO SHARE PAST EXPERIENCES AND CONSIDER FUTURE PATHWAYS, ATTENDEES ARE GIVEN THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE RESILIENT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. THE PARTICIPANTS LEAVE THE ACADEMY WITH A STRENGTHENED SENSE OF SELF AND PURPOSE, PREPARED TO BECOME PART OF A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THEIR PEERS WHO MAY BE FACING ABUSE, HARASSMENT, SUBSTANCE MISUSE, OR THE INTENSE DEMANDS OF PUBLIC-FACING CAREERS. AT A JERICHO EVENT, EACH DAY IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE A WHOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF MIND, BODY, SOUL, AND COMMUNITY. EACH DAY STARTS WITH MOVEMENT AND BREATH EXERCISES WITH A TAI CHI SESSION, AIMING TO GROUND THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. THESE TOOLS ARE TAUGHT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF SLOWING DOWN WITH INTENTION, KEY TO BEING ABLE TO MANAGE HIGH-STRESS ENVIRONMENTS, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, AND INTERPERSONAL CHALLENGES.THE MORNING WORKSHOP SESSIONS CONTINUE THE DAY WITH INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGES, PUSHING THE PARTICIPANTS TO DEEPLY CONSIDER KEY SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES, AS WELL AS THEIR APPLICATION TO REAL LIFE SCENARIOS. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ARE PROMOTED THROUGH OPEN DISCUSSION, EVEN WHEN OPINIONS DIFFER AND CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES ARE RAISED. PHILOSOPHICAL DIMENSIONS TO TOPICAL PROBLEMS ARE INCLUDED TO EXTEND CONVERSATIONS INTO EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND ACADEMIC SPHERES. WORKSHOPS EXTEND TO ISSUES SUCH AS FINANCIAL HEALTH, FEMINISM AND GENDER DYNAMICS, AND THE BALANCE BETWEEN PRIVACY AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESSURE. AFTERNOONS ENHANCE THIS CULTIVATION OF THE MIND BY ENGAGING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, EACH WITH THE DUAL PURPOSE OF BOTH FITNESS IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THESE EXPERIENCES BALANCE THE DAYS THROUGH EXERCISE AND EXERTION, TEACHING TEAMWORK, COLLABORATION, PERSISTENCE, AND HEALTHY COMPETITION. ACTIVITIES MAY INCLUDE PICKLEBALL, SWIMMING, SPORTS-DAYS, AND CREATIVE CHALLENGES. THESE SESSIONS PROVIDE A LIGHTNESS TO THE DAY WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO IMPROVING CONCENTRATION AND VULNERABILITY WITHIN THE GROUP. MEALS ARE SIMPLE BUT INTENTIONAL. WITH PHONES REMOVED FROM THE EQUATION, THESE ARE MOMENTS FOR IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS, BUILDING CRITICAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS NECESSARY FOR BUILDING A NETWORK IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. TIME AND SPACE FOR REFLECTION ON THE WEEK'S SESSIONS ARE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. JOURNALING, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND READING ARE ENCOURAGED, WITH PARTICIPANTS ORGANIZING TIME FOR EACH AMONGST THEMSELVES. HOWEVER, WITH THE PEACE AND QUIET PROVIDED BY THE ISOLATED SETTING, PARTICIPANTS CAN ALSO FIND THE SPACE FOR ALONE TIME. ESPECIALLY IN THE MODERN WORLD OF TECHNOLOGICAL OVERWHELM, THIS TIME TO GET TO KNOW ONESELF IS A KEY FEATURE OF A JERICHO EVENT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALSO MOMENTS OF SHARED CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS REFLECTIVE WORK, CREATING EXCHANGES OF VULNERABILITY AND AUTHENTICITY. THIS WHERE THE PERSONAL WORK BECOMES COLLABORATIVE, THE COMMUNITY BECOMES HONEST, AND PARTICIPANTS START TO OFFER SUPPORT AND ADVICE TO ONE ANOTHER, GROWING INTO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A ROLE MODEL.YOUNG PEOPLE LOOK TO ARTISTS AS THEIR PRIMARY ROLE MODELS, AND JERICHO SUPPORTS THESE EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG PEOPLE IN LIVING UP TO THIS DUTY, GIVING THEM TOOLS TO LEAD AND INSPIRE OTHERS OF THEIR GENERATION. HOWEVER, THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF THEY THEMSELVES SURVIVE THE INDUSTRY, IF THEIR AUTHENTICITY STAYS INTACT - JERICHO CREATES MICROCOSMS OF CONNECTION AND SUPPORT THAT ARE DESIGNED TO RIPPLE OUT INTO BUILDING A FUTURE WHICH WE CAN ALL BE PROUD TO BE PART OF.
- $116,231 spent. THE AUGUST 2025 EVENT - JERICHO SOMERSET IN UNITED KINGDOMSET WITHIN A NATURE RESERVE IN THE UK COUNTRYSIDE, THE AUGUST 2025 JERICHO EVENT IS A MULTI-DAY WELLNESS AND CREATIVE RETREAT DESIGNED FOR FOSTERING EMERGING VOICES IN LITERATURE, FILM, ART, MUSIC, AND BEYOND; SHARING IDEAS; AND TRAINING LEADERS AND ROLE MODELS FOR YOUNGER TALENT IN THOSE AREAS. THE JERICHO EVENT AIMS TO IDENTIFY, ENCOURAGE, AND EMPOWER CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS NOT ONLY IN THEIR TALENTS, BUT IN THEIR ABILITY TO SUSTAIN A CREATIVE LIFE WITH RESILIENCE, CLARITY, AND COMMUNITY, AND TO INSTILL THOSE VALUES IN AND OFFER SUPPORT FOR YOUNGER PERSONS IN THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WORLD. CENTRAL TO THIS MISSION IS PREPARING CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS ACTIVELY WORKING IN THE ARTS TO HAVE AND BECOME PART OF A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR PEERS AND YOUNGER CREATIVES WHO MAY BE FACING ABUSE, HARASSMENT, SUBSTANCE MISUSE, OR THE INTENSE DEMANDS OF PUBLIC-FACING CAREERS.AT JERICHO, EACH DAY'S RHYTHM IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE A PARTICIPANT'S UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, INNER STABILITY, OUTER ENGAGEMENT, AND CREATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR WORK. EACH DAY BEGINS WITH MOVEMENT AND BREATH WITH A YOGA PRACTICE OR SIMILAR GENTLE EXERCISE THAT AIMS TO GROUND PARTICIPANTS IN THE PRESENT, CULTIVATING BODY AWARENESS AND MENTAL CLARITY. THESE TOOLS ARE TAUGHT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND FOCUS, TO BETTER MANAGE HIGH-STRESS ENVIRONMENTS, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, AND INTERPERSONAL CHALLENGES.THE SPEAKER-LED SESSIONS CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS TO ENGAGE DEEPLY WITH IDEAS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND REFLECT CRITICALLY. BREAKOUT DISCUSSIONS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP COMMUNICATION, SELF-EXPRESSION, ACTIVE LISTENING, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. TOPICS MAY INCLUDE CREATIVE SUSTAINABILITY, NAVIGATING TOXIC ENVIRONMENTS, AND THE LEADERSHIP AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS NEEDED TO SUPPORT OTHERS IN DISTRESS. AFTERNOONS ENHANCE THESE TALENTS BY ENGAGING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS FORAGING, BUSHCRAFT, FIRE-COOKING, OR BREATHWORK ANCHOR PARTICIPANTS IN EMBODIED LEARNING. THESE EXPERIENCES MIRROR THE PERSISTENCE AND ADAPTABILITY NEEDED TO WITHSTAND PRESSURE AND ACT IN LINE WITH ONE'S VALUES. MEALS ARE SIMPLE BUT INTENTIONAL. THESE ARE MOMENTS OF COMMUNITY STRENGTHENING, CRITICAL FOR COLLABORATION AND DEVELOPING SUPPORT IN CREATIVE NETWORKS. JERICHO OFFERS TWO UNIQUE SPACES FOR REFLECTION. PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE UNSTRUCTURED TIME TO ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO JOURNAL, SHARE MUSIC, ENGAGE IN CREATIVE COLLABORATION, OR SIMPLY BE IN QUIET COMPANY TO FOSTER SAFETY IN COMMUNITY. AND EACH DAY ENDS IN CIRCLE, UNDER STARS AND FIRELIGHT. THIS TIME IS USED FOR REFLECTION, AND AS A STEP STONE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO PRACTICE ACTING AS MODELS OF COURAGE, CARE, HONESTY, AND LEADERSHIP IN HOLDING SAFE SPACES AND NURTURING EMOTIONAL SAFETY FOR OTHER PEOPLE. IT'S WHERE THE WORK BECOMES PERSONAL, THE COMMUNITY BECOMES REAL, AND PARTICIPANTS ASSUME THE MANTLE OF ROLE MODELS AND LEADERS IN THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.JERICHO IS MORE THAN A RETREAT. IT IS A CHARITABLE MOVEMENT TO SHAPE A HEALTHIER, SAFER CREATIVE CULTURE, WHERE EMERGING ARTISTS ARE PREPARED NOT JUST TO CREATE, BUT TO LEAD WITH EMPATHY, PROTECT THEIR PEERS, AND MODEL A NEW STANDARD OF INTEGRITY IN THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES.
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
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 2025.
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 February 2022.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Mather Foundation (Evanston, IL), EIN 20-1030638. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.