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Petaluma Blacks for Community Development

EIN 13-4279054 · Petaluma, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SHARE BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURE, UPLIFT YOUTH, AND BUILD INCLUSIVE CONNECTIONS THAT STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY

Income
$201,272
Spending
$101,054
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
24.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
2
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$15,000, excutive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 186% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (4)
  1. $10,759 spent. PROVIDE BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURAL EVENTS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM, EXHIBIT AND OTHIER EVENTS THAT ARE FREE AND OPEN TO ALL.THESE PROGRAMS AND EXHIBIT DRAW PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER SONOMA. COUNTY. WE AVERAGE UPWARD OF 300 PEOPLE AT OUR BLACK HISORY PROGRAM AND THE MUSEUM RECORDED 1700 THAT SAW OUR EXHIBIT. IN ADDITION, WE PRESENTED WITH THE MUSEUM OF SONOMA COUNTY AN ART IN CONVERSATION WITH 5 LOCAL ARTIST DISCUSSING AFRICAN AMERICAN JOURNEY THROUGH ART. FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE DID A LECTURE VIA ZOOM WITH MIRIAM THAGGERT ABOUT HER BOOK, "RIDING JANE CROW:AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN ON THE AMERICAN RAILROAD.
  2. $9,455 spent. PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OUR BLACK YOUTH THROUGH OUR GRAPEVINE YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 2021 AND AVERAGES 20 STUDENTS FOR EACH 6 MONTH CO-HORT. IT IS OPEN TO STUDENTS 13 TO 18. IT INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO LEADERSHIP SKILLS, PROVIDE FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER YOUTH, INTRODUCE THEM TO BLACK PROFESSIONAL AND THEY PERFORM SERVICE PROJECTS. IN 2025, THE YOUTH DID WORKSHOPS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY, THE YOUTH SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, THEY ATTENDED THE BLACK EXPO IN SACRAMENTO TO LEARN ABOUT BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND THEY VISITED THE OAKLAND MUSEUM. THE YOUTH TOOK FLOWERS TO 3 CARE FACILITIES IN PETALUMA ON MOTHER'S DAY. THEY HAD MONTHLY MEETING TO HAVE FUN AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
  3. $4,583 spent. ENSURE THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY BECOMES A POSITIVE FORCE WITHIN THE COUNTY, WE WORK AS INDIVIDUALS AND COLLECTIVELY TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE PETALUMA CHAMBER AND DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION. WE PARTICIPATE IN PETALUMA'S ANNUAL BUTTER AND EGGS DAY PARADE AND THE SONOMA COUNTY JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION. WE PARTICIPATE WITH OTHER ORANIZATIONS IN THEIR EVENTS. WE ALSO SPEAK AT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS MEETINGS ABOUT PETALUMA BLACKS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
  4. $2,877 spent. TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO NEW BLACK FAMILIES MOVING INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND VISITORS, WE PROVIDE A 3 FOLD BROCHURE TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, VISITORS CENTER, MUSEUM AND OTHER PLACES THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT OUR GROUP AND HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US. OUR COMMUNITY PICNIC IS ANOTHER WAY OF LETTING PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT US.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 December 2025.

    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 January 2005.

    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 November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.