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Common Future

EIN 20-1544255 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMON FUTURE IS A NETWORK OF PIONEERING LEADERS ACROSS THE U.S. AND CANADA WHO WORK DEEPLY WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO CREATE ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO BUSINESS, PHILANTHROPY, AND INVESTING. WE ENVISION AN ECONOMY THAT HAS TRANSITIONED FROM THE EXTRACTIVE ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH AND CENTRALIZATION OF POWER TO ONE THAT REDISTRIBUTES WEALTH, DEMOCRATIZES POWER, AND SHIFTS ECONOMIC CONTROL TO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
22.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
43
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$230,036, co-ceo

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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, 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 (3)
  1. $2.1 million spent. PROJECT INCUBATION WE INCUBATE PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DRASTICALLY TRANSFORM CAPITAL DISTRIBUTION AND WEALTH OWNERSHIP. BY FORGING COLLABORATIVES WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, WE BUILD UPON OUR SHARED NETWORKS TO BRING NEW MODELS TO LIFE.
  2. $2.1 million spent. LEADERSHIP AND FIELD BUILDING BY BRINGING TOGETHER FELLOWS, FUNDERS, AND OTHER KEY PLAYERS IN THE ECONOMY, COMMON FUTURE HAS BUILT A UNIQUE NETWORK THAT IS POISED TO LEARN TOGETHER; FORGE NEW COLLABORATIONS; PROVIDE REAL FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH GRANTMAKING AND CAPITAL PRODUCTS; AND ELEVATE THIS WORK TO MAINSTREAM ACTORS IN PHILANTHROPY, INVESTING, AND POLICY TO INFLUENCE ECONOMIC SYSTEMS.
  3. $1.3 million spent. CAPITAL INTERMEDIATION OUR WORK AS AN INTERMEDIARY HAS THREE PRINCIPAL AIMS: REDISTRIBUTE CAPITAL TO COMMUNITY LEADERS. PILOT NEW TYPES OF FLEXIBLE FINANCING THAT BETTER SERVE THEIR NEEDS. CREATE A NEW ASSET CLASS TAILORED TO THESE COMMUNITIES THAT CAN SCALE AND ATTRACT CAPITAL ON ITS OWN.

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 2005.

    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.

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