Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

United Portuguese S E S Inc

EIN 95-1691325 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak30 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF PORTUGUESE TRADITIONS, CULTURE, AND MUSIC

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$777,895
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
27.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 57%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$38,272, hall manager

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 121% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 31 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

    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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $646,156 spent. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE UNITED PORTUGUESE S.E.S. IS TO PROMOTE RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS AND EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT PORTUGUESE TRADITIONS, ETHNIC CULTURE AND MUSIC.ONE SUCH SERVICE PROVIDED IS THE ANNUAL 3-DAY FESTA HONORING THE FEAST OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH HAS BEEN CELEBRATED IN PORTUGAL FOR CENTURIES. THE UNITED PORTUGUESE S.E.S. SERVICES APPROXIMATELY 20,000 PEOPLE IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA.
  2. $28,222 spent. THE PORTUGUESE AMERICAN DANCERS PERFORM AT FESTIVALS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE CELEBRATION OF PORTUGUESE DANCE, RITES AND HOLIDAYS.
  3. $23,841 spent. THE FILARMONICA PERFORMS AT FESTIVALS, PARADES AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE CELEBRATION OF PORTUGUESE MUSIC, RITES AND HOLIDAYS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 2004.

    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.