Credit Abuse Resistance Education - Los Angeles
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CARE (Credit Abuse Resistance Education) is a national organization thats designed to alert students and adults to the many consequences of consumer credit abuse. Originally founded in 2002 by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge John C. Ninfo II in upstate New York, CARE programs proliferated around the country until 2015 when CARE was organized into its own independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. CARE developed out of a growing conviction among legal and business professionals that financial literacy in America must improve.The CARE program achieves its mission by providing in-school presentations to students at high schools and colleges, as well as other community groups. Bankruptcy judges, lawyers, bankruptcy trustees, business professionals, and financial services professionals (including TransUnion, one of the big 3 credit bureaus) typically give these presentations. We make these presentations for free, taking time out of our own schedules to meet with students in the school e
- Income
- $131,488
- Spending
- $58,882
- Reserves
- 28.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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)
- $40,764 spent. During 2025, CARE Los Angeles significantly expanded the scale, reach, and delivery of its financial literacy programming, providing more than 127 presentations across Southern California. These workshops engaged an estimated 3,000 students, young adults, and community members. During this period, CARE Los Angeles also established partnerships with 35 new presentation sites, reflecting strong and growing community demand for accessible, practical financial education.While CARE Los Angeles continued to primarily serve inner-city high schools, the organization also broadened its reach by delivering financial literacy presentations to a diverse range of community-based organizations. These partnerships allowed CARE LA to engage individuals and families at various life stages and points of need, including presentations for Childrens Collective, Tarzana Treatment Center, PalmsRancho Park Library, Aviva Family and Childrens Services, and Partners for Children South LA.In practice, CARE Los Angeles implemented its program through in-person and virtual, interactive workshops facilitated by trained volunteers with professional expertise in bankruptcy law, finance, and business. During the grant period, a portion of the funding supported a comprehensive refresh and rebranding of CARE LAs presentation materials. This effort significantly improved clarity, consistency, and relevance across all workshops. High school student volunteers were intentionally engaged in the rebranding process, providing valuable feedback and helping to update content, visuals, and examples to better reflect the real-life experiences and challenges faced by todays youth.The refreshed presentations incorporate real-world financial scenarios and are tailored to meet the needs of specific audiences, including high school students, first-generation college seekers, families, and adults navigating financial hardship. As part of this rebrand, CARE Los Angeles formally integrated interactive Kahoot-style quizzes and activities into its workshops. These tools reinforced key concepts such as budgeting, responsible credit use, and fraud prevention, while increasing participant engagement and knowledge retention through real-time feedback and discussion.CARE Los Angeles expanded its footprint to 35 new presentation sites, including high schools and community-based organizations serving survivors of domestic violence, formerly incarcerated youth, individuals in addiction recovery, families navigating financial settlements, and other underserved populations. This expansion enabled CARE LA to reach individuals facing heightened financial vulnerability who often lack access to reliable, unbiased financial education.Participant engagement throughout the year remained consistently strong. Workshops generated active discussion and thoughtful questions around real-life financial decisions, including managing debt, avoiding scams, understanding credit scores, and planning for education or employment expenses. Many participants noted that the refreshed materials, interactive Kahoot activities, and relatable examples made the content more approachable and immediately applicable.Overall, the accomplishments achieved during this period demonstrate CARE Los Angeles ability to responsibly scale its volunteer-led model while simultaneously enhancing program quality and participant engagement. The programs growth in volume, geographic reach, and instructional effectiveness reflects increasing community trust and underscores the ongoing need for practical, engaging, and accessible financial literacy education.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 2024.
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.