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Cause Effective Inc

EIN 13-3083978 · North Haven, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAUSE EFFECTIVE TRANSFORMS NONPROFITS BY PARTNERING WITH MISSION-DRIVEN LEADERS TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL CHANGE. WE WORK WITH LEADERSHIP TO DEVELOP, EMPLOY & EXPAND EFFECTIVE FUNDRAISING, GOVERNANCE & ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE EQUITY & JUSTICE.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
52%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
27
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$180,087, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    52% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

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

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $780,917 spent. CONSULTING - LAST YEAR WE COUNSELED 139 NONPROFITS THROUGH CUSTOMIZED BOARD TRAININGS, INTENSIVE COACHING OR YEAR-LONG FUNDRAISING RESIDENCIES. OVER 1,000 NONPROFIT LEADERS WERE INSPIRED AND INFLUENCED BY CAUSE EFFECTIVE'S COACHING AND TRAINING TO DIVERSIFY REVENUE AND ADDRESS RISKS TO ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCE.
  2. $36,036 spent. WORKSHOPS - LAST YEAR WE LED OVER 53 WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS DESIGNED TO ELEVATE NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP'S KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN BOARD GOVERNANCE AND FUNDRAISING, MADE POSSIBLE BY COLLABORATIONS WITH 11 FUNDERS AND OTHER PARTNERS.PUBLICATIONS - WE PROVIDE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ON A SECTORAL LEVEL ON ISSUES PERTAINING TO FUNDRAISING AND GOVERNANCE, ESPECIALLY STRATEGIC CONCERNS RELATING TO EQUITY, ACCESS, AND ENSURING THAT ALL HAVE THEIR RIGHTFUL SEAT AT THE TABLE. IN 2019 CAUSE EFFECTIVE RELEASED "MONEY, POWER AND RACE: THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF FUNDRAISERS OF COLOR" - A SEARINGLY HONEST NARRATIVE UNCOVERING THE CHALLENGES FACED BY FUNDRAISERS OF COLOR ACROSS U.S. NONPROFITS OF ALL SIZES. WHICH IS STILL PROVOKING SECTORAL CONVERSATIONS TODAY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1981.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

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