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Calcpa Institute

EIN 20-0978565 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To inspire diverse and talented individuals to become CPAs and empower them to stay in the profession.

Income
$524,562
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
0
Volunteers
128
Highest pay
$576,050, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 179% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 April 30, 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. $588,984 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: CALCPA INSTITUTE AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AT ALL TWO AND FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES. THESE RECIPIENTS ARE MAJORING IN ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS, ENTREPENURSHIP, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, ECONOMICS, ETC. AND HAVE THE INTENTION TO GO INTO AN ACCOUNTING-RELATED CAREER. THESE FUNDS ARE RAISED BY ITS MEMBERS FROM THE FOURTEEN CHAPTERS AND FROM CORPORATE PARTNERS. CALCPA INSTITUTE ALSO HELD NUMEROUS FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS OF CALIFORNIANS. MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF CPAS, THROUGH THE INSTITUTE, ALSO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE BY SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH THE PUBLIC THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH STATE LEGISLATORS AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
  2. $816,983 spent. STUDENT OUTREACH: AT THE HIGHSCHOOL LEVEL, CALCPA SPONSORS DECA AND FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA EVENTS TO HELP INSPIRE NEXT GENERATION TO PURSUE CAREERS IN ACCOUNTING. FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO CPA IS A PROGRAM OFFERED ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND VIRTUALLY ACROSS THE STATE THAT AIDS STUDENTS IN THE TRANSITION FROM A TWO YEAR COLLEGE AND HELP KICKSTART THEIR CPA JOURNEY. THE INDUSTRY INFLUENCER PROGRAM ESTABLISHES STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES ON VARIOUS COLLEGE CAMPUSES WITH THE GOAL OF BUILDING STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH ACCOUNTING EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS, AS WELL AS PROMOTING THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION AND CPA LICENSURE. CALCPA ALSO HOSTS FIRM CRAWL FIELD TRIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS TO VISIT FIRMS, MEET PARTNERS AND PERSONALLY GET A FEEL FOR DIFFERENT SIZE FIRMS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE OVERSEES BELONGING EFFORTS WITHIN THE CPA PROFESSION BY MANAGING A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE STATE.
  3. $48,617 spent. CALCPA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IS A 5-DAY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TEACH CALCPA MEMBERS SKILLS THAT WILL MAKE THEM BETTER LEADERS AND MANAGERS. PARTICIPANTS GROW AS VOLUNTEER AND BUSINESS LEADERS AS THEY FOCUS ON IMPROVING LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR, AS WELL AS CRITICAL THINKING AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS. THE CALIFORNIA CPA EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND CALCPA UNDERWRITE THE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM EXCEPT FOR A SMALL ADMINISTRATIVE FEE THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 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 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 April 2025.

    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 September 2004.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Cato Institute (Washington, DC), EIN 23-7432162. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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