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Center for Community Alternatives

EIN 16-1395992 · Syracuse, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE REINTEGRATIVE JUSTICE AND A REDUCED RELIANCE ON INCARCERATION THROUGH ADVOCACY, SERVICES AND PUBLIC POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN PURSUIT OF CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

Income
$18.7 million
Spending
$19.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 80%
Employees
201
Volunteers
58
Highest pay
$273,073, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 73% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    49 of 51 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $6.7 million spent. YOUTH SERVICES: CCA OFFERS AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS SERVING AT-RISK YOUTH IN NEW YORK CITY AND SYRACUSE, NEW YORK. IN NYC, CCA OVERSEES ALL FACILITY-BASED AFTER-SCHOOL AND CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAMMING AT HORIZON AND CROSSROADS YOUTH DETENTION CENTERS. CCA'S YOUTH ADVOCACY PROGRAM PROVIDES NYC YOUTH WITH ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. YOUTH ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO MENTORING AND THE YOUTH PATHWAYS PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS WORK READINESS AND PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN FIELDS SUCH AS MUSIC, FASHION AND CULINARY ARTS. IN SYRACUSE, CCA'S TRANSITION ADVOCATE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE SCHOOL DISTRICT DESIGNED TO KEEP YOUTH IN SCHOOL AS WELL AS TO HELP OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH RETURN TO SCHOOL. CCA ALSO PROVIDES AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SYRACUSE AS WELL AS VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION AND PEER EDUCATOR TRAINING TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS. 2024 APPROX. NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SERVICE WAS PROVIDED FOR: YOUTH SERVICES: 1,309.
  2. $3.7 million spent. RECOVERY & TREATMENT SERVICES: CCA'S CROSSROADS ARE OASAS-LICENSED SUBSTANCE USE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT AND MED ASSISTED PROGRAMS IN NYC WHICH PROVIDES GENDER-SPECIFIC SERVICES TO MEN AND WOMEN WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT. IN SYRACUSE, CCA PARTNERS WITH CROUSE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT SERVICES TO PROVIDE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS BEING RELEASED FROM ONONDAGA CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. CCA ALSO OPERATES RECOVERY AND OUTREACH CENTERS IN SYRACUSE AND ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. THESE CENTERS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG, HEALTHY PEER COMMUNITIES AND COLLABORATIONS WITH PARTNER AGENCIES WHICH EVIDENCE HAS SHOWN ARE KEY ELEMENTS IN SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY. 2024 APPROX. NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SERVICE WAS PROVIDED FOR: RECOVERY AND TREATMENT: 891
  3. $1.9 million spent. REINTEGRATION SERVICES: CCA OFFERS AN ARRAY OF EMPLOYMENT-RELATED SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT INCLUDING COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, TRANSITIONAL PLANNING, JOB READINESS AND JOB DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AS WELL AS JOB PLACEMENT AND JOB RETENTION. CCA ALSO ASSISTS PARTICIPANTS TO CONNECT WITH EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING INTERNSHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES. IN ADDITION, CCA'S REENTRY CLINIC PROVIDES CIVIC RESTORATION LEGAL SERVICES TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS OVERCOME EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATIONAL, AND HOUSING BARRIERS ASSOCIATED WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD. 2024 APPROX. NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SERVICE WAS PROVIDED FOR: REINTEGRATION SERVICES: 338
  4. $3.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE MITIGATION SERVICES (130 INDIVIDUALS), ADVOCACY & ORGANIZING (100 INDIVIDUALS), HOUSING SERVICES (60 INDIVIDUALS), AND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION/ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION (100 INDIVIDUALS).

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.