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Mesa Community Action Network Incorporated

EIN 86-0558407 · Mesa, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MESA COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK (MESACAN) HAS A MISSION OF "ADDRESSING POVERTY NEEDS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE MESA COMMUNITY."

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
22
Volunteers
187
Highest pay
$314,551, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.8 million spent. MESA COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK (MESACAN) IS A COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM SUBSIDIARY OF A NEW LEAF, SERVING MORE THAN 9,000 LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN MESA ANNUALLY. MESACAN OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF SERVICES, SUCH AS EMERGENCY RENT, MORTGAGE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, HOME WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND FINANCIAL COACHING.
  2. $1.7 million spent. MESACAN PROVIDES SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, MORTGAGE, AND UTILITIES TO PREVENT EVICTION OR LOSS OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,700 MESA RESIDENTS ANNUALLY. CASE MANAGERS HELP ADDRESS UNDERLYING BARRIERS SUCH AS ACCESS TO BENEFITS, LIMITED JOB SKILLS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY.
  3. $166,272 spent. ASSETS TO OPPORTUNITY (ATO) IS A MATCHED SAVINGS PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS ABOUT 100 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR IN PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION OR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. IT STRENGTHENS LONG-TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH THROUGH COACHING, RESOURCE REFERRALS, AND GUIDED SAVINGS PLANS.
  4. $415,098 spent. THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM OFFERS FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOWER INCOMES. EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 4,600 HOUSEHOLDS BENEFIT, RETURNING OVER $5,000,000 TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND BOOSTING FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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