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Southland Economic Development Corporation

EIN 95-3560326 · Santa Ana, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES SOUTHLAND SERVES BY STIMULATING EMPLOYMENT AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT, EXPANDING THE TAX BASE, AND INCREASING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
28.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
15
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$376,458, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 11 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 September 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. $2.4 million spent. SOUTHLAND IS A "CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND OPERATES A U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) LENDING PROGRAM. SOUTHLAND IS AUTHORIZED TO OFFER AND APPROVE LOANS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE SBA'S 504 DEBENTURE LOAN PROGRAM. SOUTHLAND ACTIVELY SERVES THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION. DURING THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, THE ORGANIZATION FUNDED 46 LOANS, AMOUNTING TO APPROXIMATELY $55,776,000. THE ORGANIZATION WAS SERVICING 577 LOANS WITH A TOTAL FACE VALUE OF $483,585,000 AND A TOTAL REMAINING BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $371,047,780 AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.
  2. $10,224 spent. SOUTHLAND ADMINISTERS A REVOLVING LOAN FUND (RLF) THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE GRANT, THE ORGANIZATION WILL USE THE FUND PROCEEDS TO ASSIST PRIVATE, FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES THAT ARE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO SECURE CONVENTIONAL FINANCING AND WHO WILL BE CREATING JOBS.
  3. $3,551 spent. SOUTHLAND ADMINISTERS AN INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM (IRP) FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WHICH PROVIDES LOW INTEREST LOANS TO QUALIFIED BUSINESSES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND TO CREATE JOBS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. 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.

  6. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Maryland Economic Development Corporation (Baltimore, MD), EIN 52-1376562. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.