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Carmel Cares

EIN 85-3432174 · Carmel, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO KEEPING CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA A BEAUTIFUL, SAFE, AND INVITING PLACE THROUGH VOLUNTEER MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, BRANDED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND OTHER CREATIVE ACTIVITIES. WE PARTNER CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF CARMEL'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$515,534
Spending
$478,881
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
0
Volunteers
150

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 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 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 114% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $357,683 spent. BEAUTIFICATION - THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE AESTHETIC FOR THOSE ENJOYING THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA. THIS YEAR OUR VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE ON SCENIC PATHWAY AND REDUCED EROSION ON STONE BEACH ACCESS STAIRWAYS. THE ORGANIZATION HELPED MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC FOREST THEATER GROUNDS WITH WEEKLY CLEANING, PLANTING OF NATIVE PLANTS AND DONATED ROLLUP COVER FOR SOUND BOOTH. THE MEDIAN MINDER PROGRAM ENABLED RESIDENTS TO ADOPT MEDIAN ISLANDS AND EASEMENTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND ASSISTED THEM IN MAKING LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS. CARMEL CARES ALSO DESIGNS AND BUILDS VARIOUS HAND-MADE, HIGH QUALITY STRUCTURES THAT ARE PLACED AROUND TOWN. THIS INCLUDES LIBRARY SHRINES (TAKE-A-BOOK, LEAVE-A-BOOK), CUTE COVERS FOR BACKFLOW PREVENTERS AND OTHER PUMP SYSTEMS THAT ARE UNSIGHTLY, VISITOR INFORMATION AND NEWSPAPER RACKS, AND DISPLAYS FOR SHOWBILLS AT THEATERS. FINALLY, THE CARMEL CARES PICK UP POSSE KEPT THE CITY LITTER-FREE AND ACTED AS AMBASSADORS FOR VISITORS AND LOCALS.
  2. $89,769 spent. SAFETY - IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE CARMEL COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO BE A PLACE THAT IS WELCOMING FOR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE AND TO PROTECT THE CITY FROM LEGAL ISSUES, THE ORGANIZATION HAS PUT A FOCUS ON IMPROVING SAFETY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM WE IDENTIFY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR OR ASSETS THAT ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT BY THE CITY. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF CARMEL AND THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND STEP IN WHERE WE CAN. THIS PAST YEAR THE ORGANIZATION MADE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AROUND THE CITY.
  3. INVITING - THE ORGANIZATION FORMS COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER LOCAL EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSIONS ARE ALIGNED WITH IMPROVING THE CITY OF CARMEL. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS THE ORGANIZATION LOOKS TO FIND WAYS THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND WORK CLOSELY TO BEST UTILIZE RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO, THROUGH THEIR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, PROVIDES TRAINING AND ON-SITE ACTIVITIES SO THAT VOLUNTEERS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONGOING NEEDS OF THE CITY AS WELL AS TANGIBLE WAYS THEY CAN HELP CONTINUE TO KEEP THE CITY A WARM AND INVITING PLACE TO VISIT AND LIVE. ORGANIZATION LEADERS ATTEND ALMOST ALL CITY GOVERNMENT MEETINGS, ARE ACTIVE IN MANY CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND PLAY A VERY ACTIVE ROLE IN ENCOURAGING, PARTICIPATING IN, AND SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES THAT PROTECT THE HISTORICAL AND ARTISTIC NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF OUR VILLAGE IN THE FOREST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 February 2021.

    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.