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Movement Strategy Center

EIN 20-1037643 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

(SEE SCHEDULE O)SUPPORTING HEALTH, FOOD SECURITY, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES THROUGH ADVOCACY, GRANTMAKING, AND CAPACITY-BUILDING EFFORTS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION FUNDED AND SUPPORTED MULTIPLE INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY, EXPANDING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AND STRENGTHENING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WHILE BUILDING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDED:- ISSUING GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCING HEALTH, FOOD SECURITY, AND EDUCATION

Income
$21.8 million
Spending
$36.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
257
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$250,932, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    5 of 10 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 June 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 (1)
  1. $31.5 million spent. AT MOVEMENT STRATEGY CENTER (MSC), WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH. OUR KEY PROGRAM AREAS, INCLUDING FOUNDATION REGRANTING, SPECIAL INTEREST AND COMMUNITY ADVISED FUNDS, DONOR ADVISED FUND (DAF) PROGRAMS, CAPACITY BUILDING, COMMUNICATIONS, STRATEGIC ADVISORY SERVICES, AND FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS (FSPS), ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE, FINANCIAL, AND PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ADDRESS A RANGE OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES.MSC WORKS WITH A BROAD NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS. OUR STAFF AND BOARD BRING A RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL AND LIVED EXPERIENCES THAT INFORM OUR WORK AND HELP ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH THE POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES SERVED. THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, WE AIM TO STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY, EXPAND ACCESS TO FUNDING RESOURCES, AND PROMOTE EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE GRANTMAKING PRACTICES.MOVEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND INNOVATION CENTER (MIIC)MIIC SERVES AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL HUB SUPPORTING MSC'S FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. MIIC PROVIDES FISCAL OVERSIGHT, COMPLIANCE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, ENABLING PARTNERS TO FOCUS ON PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. MIIC ALSO OFFERS CONSULTING AND PROGRAM DESIGN SERVICES TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SECTOR-WIDE EFFECTIVENESS.MOVEMENT STRATEGY NETWORK (MSN)MSN IS A NETWORK OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT COLLABORATE ON SHARED PROGRAMMATIC GOALS. MSC SUPPORTS MSN PARTNERS THROUGH GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, CAPACITY-BUILDING SERVICES, AND COORDINATION EFFORTS TO ENHANCE COLLABORATION AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.REGRANTING SERVICESMSC ADMINISTERS REGRANTING PROGRAMS THAT DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH DONOR INTENT AND APPLICABLE REGULATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND TO SUPPORT PROJECTS ADDRESSING IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS.SPECIAL INTEREST AND COMMUNITY ADVISED FUNDSTHESE FUNDS SUPPORT TARGETED GRANTMAKING INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC ISSUE AREAS OR COMMUNITIES. MSC FACILITATES GRANTMAKING PROCESSES THAT INCORPORATE INPUT FROM ADVISORS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO INFORM FUNDING DECISIONS, CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE GUIDELINES AND DONOR RESTRICTIONS.DONOR ADVISED FUND (DAF) PROGRAMMSC ADMINISTERS DONOR ADVISED FUNDS THAT ALLOW DONORS TO RECOMMEND GRANTS TO QUALIFIED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF CHARITABLE FUNDS IN ALIGNMENT WITH DONOR INTENT AND IRS REQUIREMENTS.INTERMEDIARY FUND COHORT PARTICIPATIONMSC PARTICIPATES IN COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES WITH PEER ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP RESOURCES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR INTERMEDIARY GRANTMAKING AND FISCAL SPONSORSHIP. MSC PROVIDES FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, COMPLIANCE SUPPORT, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS TO ENSURE ADHERENCE TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 May 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.

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.