Puente Learning Center

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
954242175
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Phone
3237808900
Rating
92
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Education N.E.C.

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$12,046,184
Expenses
$9,879,401
Assets
$34,672,273
Liabilities
$867,635

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

14 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • JEROME G GREENING (CEO)
  • MATT WELLS (VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT)
  • MICHELE WOLFE (Vice President of Programs)

Highest reported compensation

  • JEROME G GREENING (CEO): $199,646 total reported compensation
  • ANGELICA CASTRO (V.P. OF FINANCE & ADMIN): $155,737 total reported compensation
  • MATT WELLS (VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT): $140,718 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

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.

What it reported doing in 2024

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.

Operating model

Revenue model
Grant-funded. 80% of the money available for current operations came from government grants.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Reported officer compensation is a large share of total spending, which may reflect staffing concentration and some filed totals do not add up.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 93
  • Transparency & Controls: 87
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 75
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 91.7%; rating input score 92
  • Fundraising efficiency: $27.64 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 64; 64th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Pass
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 18%; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.51; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 7.5%; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 11.6% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 12.4% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 1.4% per year; rating input score 100; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 91.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 9 of 9 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $9.1M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $200K · 14 people listed · 4 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 33 of 34 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 8 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 15 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 5 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 32/100.
  • Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Schedule A contributions reconciliation did not reconcile in the filed values.