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Merci

Tax-deductible

Monterey Park, CA501(c)(3)Since 1959Employment EIN 95-2219917Revenue $3.0M in FY2025Latest return filed Jul 14, 2026

On file with the IRSmerci.orgMonterey Park, CATax-exempt since Jun 1961School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilites in maximizing their independence and in becoming productive, contributing members within the community.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 95-2219917) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 2 volunteers and 49 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $133K a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
81% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$125K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 53% of similar orgs
Pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
Cash reserves
5.4 mo
of spending, in cash
5.4 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$2.2M
28% of total assets
Liabilities are 28% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
6 of 6 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
In line with peersDifferent from peersFar from peersNo peer rangeNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.0M
-63% vs prior year
Spent
$3.0M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$5.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.0M
FY2025▼ -63%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2021$2.6M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$2.3M
FY2024$8.2M
FY2025$3.0M
Expenses
$3.0M
FY2025+0.4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$2.3M
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$7.6M
FY2024$3.0M
FY2025$3.0M
Net assets
$5.6M
FY2025-0.2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$7.1M
FY2021$7.4M
FY2022$7.9M
FY2023$424K
FY2024$5.6M
FY2025$5.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending August 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 1961.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $2.5M Management & general 18% · $537K Fundraising 1% · $30K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

7 people listed on the 990; $125K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Bernice La Scala
Executive Dir.
$125,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Rene Araiza
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Bernice La Scala’s $125K as Executive Dir. is at the 47th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1245 $1–10M employment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Angela Pao-Johnson—$141,621————
Jillian Van Leuven——$135,722$126,469$123,384$123,384
Bernice La Scala$125,000—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Merci executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Teaches life skills to individuals with developmental disabilities.

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2 programs · $2.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Adult Deveopment Center

Teaches independent LIVING/SOCIALIZATION skills through a variety of structured activities. Clients are taken on outings into the community to become acclimated to everyday SITUATIONS.EXTENDED services program: supplemental hours for clients needing early MORNING/LATE afternoon care.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 95-2219917) · Dispute this line
$1.3Mprogram expense
02

Ernie's place and john and mary's place are group homes that provides 24 hour care for up to 12 adults with developmental disabilities. The staff at each home ensure that every resident's needs are met as well as working individually with them to accomplish their own individual goals.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 95-2219917) · Dispute this line
$1.2Mprogram expense

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$50K
Investment incomeLn 3$42K
Money outPt IX
$3.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.5M
Managementcol C$537K
Fundraisingcol D$30K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$7.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$50K
Government grantsLn 1e$2K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$6K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$42K
Other incomeLn 4–11$625
Gains on assetsLn 7$200
Total revenueLn 12$3.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$352K
SavingsLn 2$1.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.4M
Accounts receivableLn 4$321K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$40K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.0M
Total assetsLn 16$7.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2M
Net assetsLn 32$5.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 549
VolunteersI 62
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M$1.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.2M$6.0M
Total assetsLn 16$7.8M$7.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2M$2.2M
Net assetsLn 32$5.6M$5.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$111K$98K$12K$633
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.8M$1.6M$196K$10K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$43K$38K$5K$247
Payroll taxesLn 10$146K$130K$16K$835
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$208$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$188K$15K$173K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$34K$3K$32K
Office expensesLn 13$38K$25K$7K$6K
InterestLn 20$100K$80K$18K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$209K$174K$31K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$122K$108K$13K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$181K$155K$21K$5K
All other expensesLn 24e$36K$23K$11K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.0M$2.5M$537K$30K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Jul 14, 2026 $3.0M$3.0M−$12K$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Jul 15, 2025 $8.2M$3.0M$5.1M$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Jun 6, 2024 $2.3M$7.6M−$5.2M$424K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS May 1, 2023 $2.4M$1.8M$562K$7.9M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Jul 15, 2022 $2.6M$2.3M$281K$7.4M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Jul 8, 2021 $2.7M$2.6M$64K$7.1M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support B · Donors D · Assets and endowments O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $3,021,638 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $40,951$50,050
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,565,183$2,928,663
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $33,086$42,500
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,528,458$425
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $8,167,678$3,021,638
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,167,276$2,122,605
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $855,316$911,170
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,022,592$3,033,775
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $5,145,086−$12,137
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,021,638 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,500
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$48,550
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$5,700
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$50,050
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,928,663$2,928,663
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $42,300$42,300
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $200$200
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $425$425
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,929,288 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $42,300$3,021,638
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,033,775 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $98,459 · Management $11,948 · Fundraising $633$111,040
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,615,468 · Management $196,035 · Fundraising $10,385$1,821,888
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $38,378 · Management $4,657 · Fundraising $247$43,282
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $129,808 · Management $15,752 · Fundraising $835$146,395
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $208 · Management $2,368$2,576
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $15,168 · Management $172,788$187,956
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,779 · Management $31,655$34,434
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $25,039 · Management $7,347 · Fundraising $5,877$38,263
IX-20 InterestPrograms $79,925 · Management $18,290 · Fundraising $1,729$99,944
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $174,411 · Management $31,067 · Fundraising $3,447$208,925
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $108,193 · Management $12,909 · Fundraising $1,260$122,362
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $154,929 · Management $21,358 · Fundraising $4,919$181,206
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $23,438 · Management $10,926 · Fundraising $1,140$35,504
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,466,203 · Management $537,100 · Fundraising $30,472$3,033,775
Part X · Balance sheet $7,723,408 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,346,714$352,224
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$1,012,004
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $236,818$321,379
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$40,200
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,200,826$5,997,601
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,784,358$7,723,408
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $51,866$169,833
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $72,158$76,664
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,083,853$1,912,478
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,207,877$2,158,975
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $5,569,514$5,559,357
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $6,967$5,076
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $5,576,481$5,564,433
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,784,358$7,723,408
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,564,433 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,021,638
XI-2 Total expenses$3,033,775
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$12,137
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$5,576,481
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$89
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,564,433

Form 990 e-file FY2025 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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