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Puente Learning Center

EIN 95-4242175 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PUENTE LEARNING CENTER IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO ITS MISSION, EMBODIED IN ITS NAME: PEOPLE UNITED TO ENRICH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH EDUCATION. AS AN ESTABLISHED NONPROFIT PRESENCE IN THE UNDERSERVED BOYLE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985, PUENTE HAS EMPOWERED OVER 122,500 STUDENTS OF ALL AGES WITH TUITION-FREE RESOURCES IN FOUR PROGRAM AREAS: CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS, AND COMMUNITY. PUENTE'S RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND COMPASSIONATE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES MATCHES THE VIBRANT AND CULTURALLY-RICH COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

Income
$12.0 million
Spending
$9.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 59%
Employees
97
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$199,646, 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (2)
  1. $7.4 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD - PRESCHOOL READINESS PROVIDES AN INTELLECTUALLY STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AGED THREE YEARS, NINE MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS OLD AND PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN. PUENTE CHARTER SCHOOL, AN LAUSD AUTHORIZED CHARTER SCHOOL SERVING ELEMENTARY-AGED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, CONSISTENTLY RECEIVES HIGH SATISFACTION RATINGS FROM ITS PARENT COMMUNITY AND FROM THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES TO REINFORCE STUDENT MASTERY OF COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND STRENGTHEN ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENT LEARNING. PRE-SCHOOL READINESS - 48 SERVED; CHARTER SCHOOL - 315 STUDENTS SERVED & 308 FAMILY MEMBERS; AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT - 137 STUDENTS SERVED.
  2. $1.7 million spent. ADULT PROGRAMS - ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LITERACY & CITIZENSHIP CLASSES, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED CURRICULUM, STUDENTS ATTAIN AQUISTION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE & CITIZENSHIP STATUS. THE ADULT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM AND THE HISET TEST PREPARATION PROGRAM SUPPORT ACHIEVEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM TO ATTAIN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BY COMPLETING THE A-G REQUIRED COURSES. THE PUENTE DIGITAL INITIATIVE CLASSES PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE THROUGH COMPUTER CAREER TRAINING, INCLUDING GOOGLE SUITE, MICROSOFT OFFICE, AND A+ COMPUTER CERTIFICATION OFFERING. COMMUNTY ENGAGEMENT - SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY PROVIDING DIRECT ACCESS TO FINANCIAL, LEGAL & HEALTH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES FOR THE PUENTE STUDENT AND FAMILY COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT-LARGE. YOUTH PROGRAMS - A COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAM, WITH CURRICULUM AND ADDITIONAL ENGAGEMENT SUPPORTS, DESIGNED FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS FIELDS. SAT PREPARATION EXPANDS LOW-INCOME HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' OPPORTUNITIES FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE SAT PREP CLASSES AND COLLEGE TRANSITION WORKSHOPS. APPROXIMATELY 81% OF COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. THE PUENTE SUMMER PROGRAM ENABLES ELEMENTARY-AGED STUDENTS TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM ACHIEVED DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND TAKE CLASSES THAT ARE ENGAGING, ENRICHING, AND INCREASE SKILLS IN AREAS THAT MAY BE A CHALLENGE. SUMMER PROGRAM - 168 CHILDREN AND ADULTS SERVED. ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE - 1041 STUDENTS SERVED; HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA - 279 STUDENTS SERVED; DIGITAL INITIATIVE - 290 STUDENTS SERVED; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - 4700 INDIVIDUALS SERVED; YOUTH PROGRAMS - 1066 STUDENTS SERVED.

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 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 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 July 1994.

    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.