MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCE Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCE

EIN 94-3074600 · International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (Q300)

What they do

FOUNDED IN 1988, THE MIDDLE EAST CHILDRENS ALLIANCE is A REGISTERED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING for THE RIGHTS and THE WELL BEING of CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE EAST. MECA SENDS SHIPMENTS of AID to PALESTINE, IRAQ and LEBANON, and SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT MAKE LIFE BETTER for THE CHILDREN. WE EDUCATE NORTH AMERICANS ABOUT CHILDREN IN THE REGION. MECA WELCOMES THE SUPPORT of ALL PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT CHILDREN and THEIR FUTURE.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $95.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders9 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

69.39%of revenue went to mission work95.2% of expenses · Program services

2.71%of revenue went to fundraising3.7% of expenses

$72.91spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

0.80%of revenue went to management and office costs1.1% of expenses

$1.42in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

93.4%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $137,775 for ZEIAD SHAMROUCH (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$18,269,688

Mission workProgram services$12,677,40669.39% of revenue95.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$146,5630.80% of revenue1.1% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$495,9042.71% of revenue3.7% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$4,949,81527.09% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$13,319,87372.91% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 95.2% mission · 1.1% management · 3.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 72.91% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 88.8% mission · 2.6% management · 8.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 62.42% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 79.1% mission · 7.4% management · 13.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 107.65% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 79.4% mission · 8.8% management · 11.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.60% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 78.7% mission · 6.5% management · 14.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 57.49% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 79.5% mission · 8.2% management · 12.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 77.70% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 78.7% mission · 9.3% management · 12.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 93.88% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 75.1% mission · 8.8% management · 16.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 93.79% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$18,269,688

Expenses$13,319,873

Annual surplus $4,949,815 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$12,677,406 · 95.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$146,563 · 1.1% of expenses

Fundraising$495,904 · 3.7% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$18,269,688

Expenses$13,319,873

Assets$18,964,212

Income$18,950,052

Contributions$17,068,333

Mission work (program services)$12,677,406

Fundraising$495,904

Grants given$175,385

Average grant$175,385

Management and general$146,563

Executive compensation (total)$130,306

Stocks and bonds$705,410

Accounting fees$22,421

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

ZEIAD SHAMROUCHEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $137,775

JOSIE SHIELDS STROMSNESSPROGRAM DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $101,810

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (9)

ZEIAD SHAMROUCHEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JOSIE SHIELDS STROMSNESSPROGRAM DIRECTOR

HOWARD LEVINETREASURER

JOS SANCESSECRETARY

JUMANA MUWAFIDIRECTOR

NANCY HORMACHEADIRECTOR

OSHA NEUMANNDIRECTOR

SAMI KITMITTOPRESIDENT

SHERRY GENDELMANVICE PRESIDENT

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1994
Location: 1101 8TH ST 100, BERKELEY, CA 94710
County: Alameda
In care of: ZEIAD ABBAS SHAMROUCH
Primary officer: ZEIAD ABBAS SHAMROUCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailmeca@mecaforpeace.org Phone(510) 548-0542

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: BRYMAR CPA LLP
NTEE classification: International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (Q300)
IRS tax category: Human Rights Organizations
Grant-giving organization: Yes