Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mar Vista Family Center

EIN 95-2647443 · Culver City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, YOUTH ENRICHMENT AND EDUCATIONAL TOOLS TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
32
Volunteers
256
Highest pay
$107,616, ceo

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

Fair: 60 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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.

  • 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

    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 (3)
  1. $513,050 spent. BY YOUTH FOR YOUTH (BYFY) PROGRAM:BYFY OFFERS A ONE-OF-A-KIND PEER FOCUSED, PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM BASED ON THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY MODEL THAT FEATURES AN ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS. PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACCESS TO A SAFE SPACE WITH TUTORS, MENTORS, PEERS, INTERNET, AND COMPUTERS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING, PRETEEN GROUPS, COLLEGE PREP SERVICES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, STEM, AND CREATIVE ARTS ALONGSIDE HEALTH, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING. PARTICIPANTS LEAD ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, PROVIDING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGES YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING THE TOOLS FOR THEM TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AS WELL AS ENHANCING CONFIDENCE, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT.
  2. $333,193 spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM:THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SUB-PROGRAMS: BABY & ME AND PRESCHOOL. THE BABY AND ME PROGRAM WAS INACTIVE DURING FYE 2024-2025 AND IS PLANNED TO RESUME IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.BABY & ME SERVES CHILDREN 0-3, THE FIRST STEP IN GUIDING INDIVIDUALS IN EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPING THEIR SOCIO-EMOTIONAL AND MOTOR SKILLS. THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM WELCOMES CHILDREN AGES 3-5, FOLLOWING A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED CURRICULUM THAT ENABLES CHILDREN TO OBTAIN AND USE SKILLS IN ALL AREAS SO THAT THEY CONTINUE TO SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOP. CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND OTHER CAREGIVERS ARE INTRODUCED TO AND BEGIN PARTICIPATING IN THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY MODEL AS WELL AS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING. IN ADDITION, PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS SERVE AS ASSISTANT TEACHERS WEEKLY AND ARE PROVIDED WITH TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND PEER LEARNING.
  3. $135,218 spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAM:THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM FACILITATES THE PERSONAL GROWTH AND LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS THROUGH USE OF THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY MODEL SO THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A SAFE AND VIBRANT ENVIRONMENT FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITY. MVFC FACILITATES MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHERE PARTICIPANTS DISCUSS ISSUES AFFECTING THEM AND FIND SOLUTIONS TOGETHER. COMMUNITY MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER WITH MVFC TO PLAN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN-UPS, FESTIVALS, AND HEALTH EDUCATION WORKSHOPS. FAMILIES FROM THE COMMUNITY MAINTAIN AND MAKE DECISIONS ON WHAT THEY GROW IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AT MVFC. MVFC ALSO PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRALS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND CHANGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEEK.

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 November 1970.

    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.

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.