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Cultiva La Salud

EIN 84-3696370 · Fresno, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Cultiva La Salud is dedicated to creating health equity in the San Joaquin Valley by fostering changes in communities that support healthy eating and active living. Cultiva La Salud is among a growing number of programs in the nation who use a policy and environmental change approach to help community members gain access to healthy food, beverages and safe places to be physically active. This unique program is being carried out by diverse partners in eight counties of the Central Valley (Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare). At the core of Cultiva La Salud's efforts is the "grassroots community" who are the catalyst and reason behind real change in communities.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
28
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$140,922, executive dir.

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. Health Equity - Cultiva La Salud's mission centers around health equity and the need for there to be a reinvestment in disadvantaged communities in the Central Valley. Cultiva La Salud's early work concentrated on obesity prevention but quickly evolved into a broader frame and concentration around health equity in order to address root causes such as the lack of safe places to play, lack of access to healthy food and beverages in low-income communities. Over the years, Cultiva La Salud has developed tools and strategies that are aimed towards improving health equity in disadvantaged communities.
  2. Active Living - Through Cultiva La Salud's work, schools and communities are working together to help improve physical activity opportunities by unlocking school space during the evenings and weekends for community use. Planners and developers are working with community leaders to update general plans that include health elements. City governments are adopting healthing eating, active living resolutions and proclamations. Parks and recreation departments are partnering with communities, police departments and animal controls to clean up parks and recreational spaces. Transportation departments are working to develop sidewalks, bike lanes, walking paths and other public transportation routes.
  3. Healthy Eating - Through Cultiva La Salud's work, schools and communities are partnering together to help improve access to healthy food and beverages by establishing school farm stands, school gardens and produce stands, healthier school menu and vending options, universal school breakfast, and increasing access to free drinking water in schools.
  4. Leadership Development - By strengthening the leadership capacity of grass-roots community members, Cultiva La Salud is helping to build the capacity for community-driven transformations which ultimately leads to better outcomes where children and families have greater access to healthy food, beverages and physical activity resources.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 June 2020.

    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.