Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Urban Habitat Program

EIN 20-0275424 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Urban Habitat democratizes power and advances equitable policies to create a just and connected Bay Area for low-income communities of color. We confront structural inequities impacting historically disenfranchised communities. Through strategic partnerships, we support increasing the power and capacity in low-income communities of color.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
12
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$190,498, executive dir.

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 90% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 99% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    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, 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 (3)
  1. $561,103 spent. Rising Juntos partnered with low-income parents, youth, and seniors to advance racial, economic and health justice in Contra Costa County. Our training program supported hundreds of residents to increase their confidence, leadership skills, and understanding of systemic inequities. Our strategic organizing engaged thousands of families to take collective action towards community priorities. We supported residents to engage with local decision-makers for equitable public investments and policies related to housing stability, quality parks, and access to needed services. Our efforts resulted in the passage of eviction protections in Antioch and stronger community leadership for housing stability countywide.
  2. $549,041 spent. Transportation and Housing Justice Policy WorkOur primary focus for our transportation justice work was lobbying to get SB 63 passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. The bill allows for a signature gathering campaign to place a funding measure on the November 2026 ballot in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. The bill was signed into law but our efforts for the revenue mechanism to be a gross receipt tax instead of a sales tax was not successful. As part of our housing justice work, we published a report on the dire circumstances of farmworker housing along the San Mateo County coast based on interviews with 22 farmworkers. (Continued on Schedule O) We also strengthened regional cooperation in tenant organizing through our advocacy work at Metropolitan Transportation Commission to maintain the tenant protections requirements in the Transit Oriented Communities Policy.
  3. $386,679 spent. Leadership DevelopmentThe Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI) trains and supports low-income people of color to serve on local and regional boards and commissions. In 2025, we convened our 17th BCLI cohort with 16 fellows representing five counties throughout the Bay Area. 56% of the 2025 fellows are serving on a commission. We also hosted our new program to train and support equity champions working inside government departments for a second year. Stepping into Your Leadership: A Learning Lab to Support Public Servants, had 24 participants from five counties, with three of the participants representing regional agencies. They participated in three webinars and four in-person sessions.

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 June 2004.

    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.