Passes our checks

Tien Tao Chee Fa Buddhist Association Inc

EIN 95-4669920 · Monterey Park, CA

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

What it says it does

PROMOTING BUDDHIST RELIGION

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
0 of 35
Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20
It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 191% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
91% 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

Weak: 22 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
5 of 25
0 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8
Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7
Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5
Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10
Did not give 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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$39,608 spent. PROVIDING REGULAR RELIGIOUS SERVICES ON THE 1ST & 15TH OF EACH MONTH AND 30 OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS. TOTAL NUMBER OF VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL ATTENDANCE TO SERVICES APPROXIMATED TO 1680..
$36,780 spent. PROVIDING WEEKLY AND REGULAR BASIS CLASSES AND SEMINARS PROMOTING RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. TOTAL NUMBER OF VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL ATTENDANCE TO EVENTS APPROXIMATED TO 1,560.
$7,545 spent. PROVIDED A 4-DAY RELIGIOUS SEMINAR. TOTAL NUMBER OF ATTENDANCE APPROXIATED TO 320. DONATED SERVICE BY SPEAKERS ESTIMATED TO BE $800.
$100 spent. DISTRIBUTING OVER 200 ISSUES OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS TO PUBLIC.

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

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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.