Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lanterns Global Inc

EIN 85-0842918 · Carpinteria, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

LANTERNS GLOBAL INC PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ON A DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL BASIS. 1 CREATE AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS IN GENERAL EDUCATIONAL STUDIES LANGUAGES SCIENCES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL DISCIPLINES (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)TO ASSIST BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS GO DEEPER IN A FIELD AND BE LIFELONG LEARNERS; 2 DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SKILLS BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN LOW-INCOME AND OR MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH ECONOMIC PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL AND OR EMOTIONAL NEEDS; AND 3 DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE TEACH AND IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE LAND USE ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES.

Income
$380,081
Spending
$384,266
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
24
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$21,284, executive director/ ceo

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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 133% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 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

    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 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 (2)
  1. $256,566 spent. CARPINTERIA CHILDREN'S FARM PROGRAMCARPINTERIA CHILDREN'S FARM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS IN GENERAL EDUCATION STUDIES, LANGUAGES, SCIENCES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL DISCIPLINES TO ASSIST BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO GROW DEEPER IN A FIELD AND BE LIFELONG LEARNERS, AS WELL AS DEVELOP AND SUSTAINING HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE, TEACH, AND IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE LAND USE ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. THE CARPINTERIA CHILDREN'S FARM PROVIDED HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMPS. THE FOUR CORE PROGRAMS INCLUDED FARM TO TABLE LEARNING, EL JARDN (SPANISH IMMERSION AND GARDENING), TIDES (MARINE BIOLOGY), AND TERRAIN (OUTDOOR FOREST EDUCATION), SERVING STUDENTS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL, PLACE-BASED LEARNING.
  2. $20,133 spent. INDONESIA EDUCATION AND SERVICE PROGRAMTHE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND SERVICE INITIATIVES IN INDONESIA, INCLUDING PROVIDING FREE TEACHER TRAINING SEMINARS FOR RURAL EDUCATORS, FACILITATING EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL CHILDREN, AND SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP EFFORTS SUCH AS COMMUNITY RECYCLING EDUCATION AND WASTE REDUCTION PROJECTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDED STRUCTURED SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN WHICH U.S. COLLEGE STUDENTS TRAVELED TO INDONESIA TO PARTICIPATE IN SUPERVISED VOLUNTEER SERVICE, CROSS-CULTURAL EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ASSISTING WITH VILLAGE-BASED COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND HANDS-ON SERVICE WORK, INCLUDING PHYSICAL LABOR IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL NEEDS. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS RAISED FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVEL AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. THE PROGRAM PRIMARILY SERVED EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN INDONESIA WHILE PROMOTING GLOBAL EDUCATION, SERVICE, AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE.

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 November 6, 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 November 4, 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.