Merci FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Monterey Park, CA501(c)(3)Since 1959EmploymentEIN 95-2219917Revenue $8.2M in FY2024

On file with the IRSmerci.org525 N Chandler Ave, 91754-1011 · Monterey 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.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$142K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
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
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$142K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$2.2M
28% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 28% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$8.2M
+250% vs prior year
Spent
$3.0M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$5.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$8.2M
FY2024▲ +250%
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
FY2024▼ -60%
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
FY2024▲ ×13
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 FY2024 Form 990 (year ending August 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

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% · $2.4M Management & general 19% · $568K Fundraising 0% · $13K

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; $142K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Dir.
$141,621Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$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.

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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 · $2.4M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Adult Day Program (pass)

This program helps adults with severe to profound developmental disabilities build independent living and socialization skills. The curriculum focuses on self-care and community navigation to foster confidence and greater independence.

$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.

$1.2Mprogram expense

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.2M
Ln 12
Other incomeLn 4–11$5.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.6M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$41K
Money outPt IX
$3.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.4M
Managementcol C$568K
Fundraisingcol D$13K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$7.8M
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$41K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$33K
Other incomeLn 4–11$5.5M
Gains on assetsLn 7−$998
Total revenueLn 12$8.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$367K
SavingsLn 2$980K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.2M
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$7.8M
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$1.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.3M$6.2M
Total assetsLn 16$8.3M$7.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.9M$2.2M
Net assetsLn 32$424K$5.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$142K$142K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.8M$1.6M$173K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$51K$43K$8K
Payroll taxesLn 10$152K$128K$24K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$119K$22K$87K$9K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$62K$48K$13K$832
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$96$96
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$13K$4K$8K$1K
InterestLn 20$118K$93K$25K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$207K$173K$35K
InsuranceLn 23$139K$117K$22K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$162K$136K$24K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$35K$28K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.0M$2.4M$568K$13K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $3.0M$3.0M−$12K$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $8.2M$3.0M$5.1M$5.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.3M$7.6M−$5.2M$424K 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.4M$1.8M$562K$7.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.6M$2.3M$281K$7.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.7M$2.6M$64K$7.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,167,678 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $64,431$40,951
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,218,472$2,565,183
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $46,160$33,086
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $2,212$5,528,458
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,331,275$8,167,678
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,841,162$2,167,276
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,733,615$855,316
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,574,777$3,022,592
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$5,243,502$5,145,086
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 $8,167,678 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$40,951
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$40,951
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,565,183$2,565,183
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $34,084$34,084
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission −$998−$998
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $5,528,458$5,528,458
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $8,092,643 · Excluded from tax $34,084$8,167,678
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,022,592 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $141,621$141,621
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,649,075 · Management $173,424$1,822,499
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $42,829 · Management $8,182$51,011
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $127,741 · Management $24,404$152,145
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting fees$0
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $22,469 · Management $87,281 · Fundraising $8,822$118,572
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $47,786 · Management $13,017 · Fundraising $832$61,635
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $96$96
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,596 · Management $8,287 · Fundraising $1,410$13,293
IX-20 InterestPrograms $93,300 · Management $24,801$118,101
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $172,885 · Management $34,560$207,445
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $117,453 · Management $21,546$138,999
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $136,086 · Management $23,985 · Fundraising $2,001$162,072
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $28,476 · Management $6,627$35,103
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,441,792 · Management $567,735 · Fundraising $13,065$3,022,592
Part X · Balance sheet $7,784,358 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,802,443$366,681
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$980,033
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $780$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $225,997$236,818
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,365$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,308,659$6,200,826
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $269$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $8,345,513$7,784,358
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $35,809$158,856
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $7,732,181$1,976,864
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,921,244$2,207,878
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $417,302$5,571,404
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $6,967$5,076
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $424,269$5,576,480
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $8,345,513$7,784,358
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,576,480 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,167,678
XI-2 Total expenses$3,022,592
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$5,145,086
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$424,269
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$7,125
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,576,480

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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