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Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts

EIN 94-2576484 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceWeak15 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION CULTURAL CENTER FOR LATINO ARTS ("MCCLA") WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 BY ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WITH A SHARED VISION TO PROMOTE, PRESERVE AND DEVELOP THE LATINO CULTURAL ARTS THAT REFLECT THE LIVING TRADITION AND EXPERIENCES OF CHICANO, MEXICAN, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN, AND CARIBBEAN PEOPLE. THE MCCLA MAKES THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE AS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WELL BEING. MCCLA RETAILS LOW COST ARTS EDUCATION CLASSES, CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES, SCREENPRINTING SERVICES, AND SPACE FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION, CULTURAL CELEBRATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. MCCLA ACHIEVES SO THROUG SERVICE FEES AND ADMISSIONS, INDIVIDUAL DONORS, FOUNDATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY OF SF (SF ARTS COMMISSION),AND PROJECT SPONSORS.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 46%
Employees
40
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$127,964, 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

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 78% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% 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

Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    6 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. PROGRAMMING IN 2021, AND IN THE MIDST OF THE COVID-19, CONTINUED TO DEVELOP THE FROM THE JAGUARS CAVE PROGRAMMING SERIES, WITH ONLINE CONTENT. ALTHOUGH UNDER HEALTH AND SAFETY RESTRICTIONS, MCCLA CONTINUED TO OFFER A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING, FOR ALL AGED, OFFERING ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL EVENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL AND EMERGING ARTISTS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDED MUSIC CONCERTS, THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, FILM SCREENINGS, POETRY AND LITERATURE READINGS,AND PANELS. MCCLA HELD 8 CONCERTS, 2 VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES, AND 14 ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS, SERVING AN ESTIMATD VIRTUAL AND PRESENTIAL AUDIENCE OF APPROXIMATELY 22,000, AND WORKING WITH APPROXIMATELY 145+ ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS. MCCLA OUTREACHED TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION AT THE CALLE 24S PASEO ARTISTICO ART WALK SERIES AND LEADERSHIPP PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROPS AND COMMITTEES.
  2. ARTS EDUCATION / WORKSHOPS / TOURSMCCLA PROVIDED 83 CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS IN DANCE, MUSIC, THEATER, YOGA, SUGAR SKULLS, AND GIFT WRAPPING. 25 TEACHING ARTISTS PARTICIPATED, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 272 YOUTH. TOGETHER WITH THE SF YOUTH THEATER, MCCLA COSPONSORED A GROUP OF 1012 YOUNG STUDENTS, OFFERING THEM SPACE AND TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR 16 REHEARSAL SESSIONS AND A FINAL VIRTUAL PRESENTATION.
  3. SUPPORT TO ARTISTS & COMMUNITY STAYINGCONNECTEDAUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT WAS ALSO ACQUIRED TO MEET THE NEW DEMAND, AND STAFF WASASSIGNED TO SUPPORT THE TRANSITION AND PROVIDE NECESSARY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ARTISTS AND TEACHERS IN OUR SCHEDULE. THROUGH PEER TRAINING STAFF NAVIGATED THROUGH THE REMOTE AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS TO HOST CLASSES, MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS, PARTICIPATION IN LEADERSHIP GROUPS AND WEBINARS, AND TO INVITE, REGISTER AND PROVIDE HOSTING SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ALSO HELD ITS 2ND ZOOM PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING IN APRIL 2021. MCCLA TRAINED ARTISTS AND TEACHERS IN ONLINE PROGRAMMING, OFFERING HOSTING AND TECH SUPPORT DURING THE TRANSITION; PROVIDED RENTAL AND DISCOUNTED SPACE TO LOCAL ARTISTS, AND GROUPS NEEDING TO MEET SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS WHEN APPROPRIATE; ACTIVELY ENGAGED ARTISTS AND TEACHERS DURING THE LOCKDOWN PERIOD, COMPENSATING THEM 100% ARTIST FEES.

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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 May 1979.

    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 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.