Tempe Community Action Agency Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TCAA's mission is to eliminate poverty and advance equitable communities. This mission is achieved through the delivery of comprehensive human services programs designed to improve housing stability, increase food security, improve health and well-being and advance economic mobility.
- Income
- $8.2 million
- Spending
- $5.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 50%
- Employees
- 65
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $145,914, former ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (1)
- $4.5 million spent. TCAA's serves low-income adults, families, and seniors living in Tempe and surrounding East Valley communities through the delivery of programs, resources, and opportunities that address a spectrum of needs. Since 1966, TCAA has helped tens of thousands of community members address the causes and effects of poverty and provided support to help peoplre and families move from crisis to stability. TCAA is one of the East Valley's largest social service agencies in terms of the volume of people served and range of programs offered. The capabilities of our experienced staff are monumentally enhanced with the involvement from public and private partners, and the active engagement of more than 400 volunteers annually.Our broad array of programming includes a Food Pantry, Escalante Community Garden, Senior Center Lunch Program, Meals on Wheels, Community Action Program,I-Help Emergency Shelter, East Valley Senior Home-Sharing program, Health Start early childhood development program, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and the Financial Success Center. These programs are designed to foster improved food security, housing stability, health and well-being, and economic mobility among the individuals and communities served.TCAA clients include adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness, families in crisis, disabled and older adults seeking help to live independently, food insecure adults and families, low-income families from communities of color who are expecting a baby, and under or un-employed individuals desiring to improve their ecomomic status. These are examples of community members who benefit from TCAA program services. Our capacity to bring about positive change impacts over 35,000 unduplicated children and adults annually.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 August 1971.
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 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.