Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Great Minds in Stem

EIN 95-4577359 · Commerce, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

- TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE UNDERSERVED STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM)- TO ENLIGHTEN AND ENGAGE FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, COMMUNITIES AND EMPLOYERS TO ASSIST UNDERSERVED STUDENTS PURSUING STEM CAREERS- TO INSPIRE OUR NATION THROUGH RECOGNITION OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HISPANICS AND OTHER ROLE MODELS IN STEM- TO ENABLE AND LEVERAGE HISPANIC STEM TALENT TO PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE- TO COLLABORATE AND COOPERATE NATIONALLY WITHIN THE STEM COMMUNITY

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
11
Volunteers
50

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. NATIONAL AWARDS CONFERENCE BRINGING TOGETHER COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS FROM INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, THE MILITARY, AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS FOR AN EVENT THAT INCLUDES CONDUCTING PRE-CONFERENCE WEBINARS AND ON-SITE SESSIONS FOCUSED ON SKILL-BUILDING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER OPPORTUNITY ENHANCEMENT WITH A GRADUATE SCHOOL AND CAREER FAIR. THE RESEARCH POSTER COMPETITION OFFERS UNDERGRDUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS. PROFESSIONALS SERVE AS JUDGES AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE STUDENTS' PRESENTATIONS TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. FOUR 1-HOUR PROFESSIONAL AWARD EVENTS AND OTHER RECOGNITION PROGRAMS CAPTURE AND SHOWCASE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY 50 WORLD-CLASS ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE MADE EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS IN THEIR FIELDS.
  2. $138,748 spent. THE MENTORNET PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO PROVIDE ALL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE MENTORSHIPS VIA A VIBRANT COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO STUDENTS' SUCCESS; TO DEVELOP A SCALABLE MENTORING PLATFORM THAT COMINTES THE TECHNOLOGY OF SOCIAL NETWORKS WITH THE SOCIAL SCIENCE OF MENTORING; AND TO DELIVER EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS THE CRITICAL ISSUES IMPACTING STEM STUDENT SUCCESS. STUDENTS ARE MATCHED WITH PROFESSIONALS BASED ON SHARED COMMONALITIES. THE CURRICULUM USED IS BASED ON THE STUDENTS' CLASSIFICATION, WHICH CAN RANGE FROM BEING A 2-YEAR COLLEGE STUDENT TO BEING A PH.D. CANDIDATE.
  3. $147,888 spent. VIVA TECHNOLOGY! IS A K-12 NATIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) AWARENESS PROGRAM OFFERED (THROUGH A COMBINATION OF VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL MEANS) TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATIONAL FOR TEACHER AND STUDENTS IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS. THE PROGRAM FEATURES PROJECT-BASED ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS AS GUEST SPEAKERS. CURRENT STEM COLLEGE STDUENTS SERVE AS TEAM COLLEGE CAPTAINS TO HELP STUDENTS THROUGH THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED. INFORMATION PACKETS ARE SHIPED TO THE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND PARENTS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT STEM CAREERS, COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS TO PURSUE THESE FIELDS OF STUDY AND GUIDES TO BOTH UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. THE VIVA TECHNOLOGY MODEL IS BEING ADAPTED AND PILOTED TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGICAL LITERACY INFORMATION TO SENIOR CITIZENS IN ASSISTED LIVING LOCATIONS.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 August 1996.

    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.