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Japanese-American Cultural Center of Vista Inc

EIN 95-3382134 · Vista, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF JAPANESE AND JAPANESE AMERICAN ART, HISTORY, AND CULTURE. TO PRESERVE AND DISSEMINATE INFORATION ABOUT THE JAPANESE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE TO PROMOTE THE STUDY OF THE JAPANESESE AMERICAN LAQUAGE. TO PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN JAPANESES AMERICAN CULTURE.

Income
$367,844
Spending
$319,298
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
27.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 7 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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, 2024, 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. $156,236 spent. JAPANESE-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ACTIVITES: THERE ARE MANY SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND PARTIES HELD ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE CENTER FACILITATES AND OVERSEES THESE EVENTS. THE CENTER ALSO PROVIDES AND AREA TO HOLD EVENTS FOR THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CENTER.
  2. $58,277 spent. JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL PROGRAM: ON THE AVERAGE, THE LANUAGE SCHOOL PROGRAM TEACHES APPROXIMATIELY 45 STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN SIX LEVELS OF LEARNING IN THE JAPANESES LANGUAGE. THE LANGUAGE PROGRAM IS ASSOCIATED TO THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF LANGUAGE SCHOOLS. STUDENTS MAY RECEIVE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CREDITS AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
  3. $28,480 spent. JUDO CLASSES: APPROXIMATELY 150 ADULTS AND CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED IN CLASSES TEACHING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF JUDO. CLASSES WERE HELD EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WENESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY. TOURNAMENTS ARE HOSTED, AND EXPENSES ARE COVERED TO SEND THE STUDENTS TO TOURNAMENTS AWAY FROM HOME. SELF-ESTEEM IS GAINED BY THE STUDENTS AS WELL AS SELF-DEFENSE SKILLS.
  4. $20,168 spent. THE FUJINKAI CLUB MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND PLANS AND ORGANIZES CULTURAL EVENTS AT THE CENTER WITH THE HELP OF THE CENTER ADMINISTRATION. FUJINKAI CO-ORDINATES MANY, IF NOT MOST , OF THE ACTIVITIES WHICH HELP PROMOTE COHESIVENESS OF TEH JAPANESE-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN VISTA, CALIFORNIA AND NORTH SAN DIEGO COUTNY. THESE ACTIVITES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO HOLIDAY EVENTS, ATHLETIC TOURNAMENTS, SUMMER FESTIVALS, AND SCHOOL EVENTS. ALL OF THES EVENTS HELP BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE JAPANESES-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. CULTRUAL SKILLS TAUGHT ALSO INCLUDE CLASSICAL JAPANESES DANCE, FLOWER ARRANGEING, AND BRAD MAKING CLASSES AS WELL AS SUMIEJAPANESES BRUSH PAINTING CLASSES, KARIOKE CLASSES ARE HELD EVERY AMONDA, TUESAY, AND FRIDAY NIGHTS. FUJINKAI TRANSLATES IN JAPANESE TO WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. THE GROUP CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELEY 60 MEMBERS. THEY OPERATE THE KITCHEN FOR FUND RAISING ACTIVITES AND CONDUCT MANY ACTIVITEIS INCLUDING ACITITIES FOR THE ELDERLY, EATER EGG HUNTS FOR THE YOUNG, AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITEIS. FEILD TRIPS ARE PLANNED WICH PROOTE BONDING FOR COMMUNTIY MEMBERS. REVENUE IS ALSO GENERATED WHICH IS DONATED TO OTHER NON PROFITS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    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 July 1985.

    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.