Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Merced County Community Action Board

EIN 94-2183288 · Merced, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE, ADVOCATE, AND COLLABORATE FOR THOSE IN NEED BY DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR SELF-EMPOWERMENT.

Income
$25.5 million
Spending
$18.8 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
235
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$202,762, executive dir.

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 47% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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. $4.8 million spent. HOUSINGTHE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT OPERATES CHARITABLE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, HOUSING INSTABILITY, AND SERIOUS HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. THE DEPARTMENT DELIVERS A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT INCLUDES A 24/7 LOW-BARRIER SHELTER WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES, CALAIM RECUPERATIVE CARE, ENHANCED CARE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCED COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, RAPID REHOUSING, AND HOPWA ASSITANCE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO CARE, STABILIZE HEALTH AND HOUSING, AND REDUCE RELIANCE ON EMERGENCY AND INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMS. THROUGH THESE COORDINATED CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES, THE DEPARTMENT SERVES MORE THAN 1,300 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY, PRODUCING A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC BENEFIT BY IMPROVING HOUSING STABILITY, HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.
  2. $4.1 million spent. FAMILY NUTRITION PROGRAM - Our Women, infants and Children's program (WIC) helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children eat well, stay healthy and be active. WIC provides food and support. Nutrition and individual counseling help families establish lifelong healthy habits. Pregnant women receive the specialized assistance to establish successful breastfeeding. 21,924 unduplicated individuals were served during the fiscal year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
  3. $4.0 million spent. WEATHERIZATION/ENERGY ASSISTANCE - Our Weatherization program provides free energy efficiency upgrades to low-Income households to help lower their monthly utility bills while improving the health and safety of the households occupants. DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, WE WEATHERIZED 572 HOMES IN MERCED, MADERA AND MARIPOSA COUNTIES. UTILITY ASSISTANCE WAS ALSO PROVIDED TO 3,977 HOUSEHOLDS IN MERCED COUNTY.
  4. $3.9 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE - The mission of our Preschool Program is to work within our communities to provide comprehensive, top quality services to participating children and families. We serve families with children 18 months to 3 years and 2-5 years of age who are not eligible for kindergarten. Our programs operate part-day and/or full-day, throughout the year. Our program is open for child care services 246 days per fiscal year.

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 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? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 1974.

    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.