Microgrants
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SPUR ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY GIVING STRATEGIC GRANTS TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE OF POTENTIAL THROUGH PARTNER AGENCIES.
- Income
- $779,041
- Spending
- $810,753
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $29,391, ceo
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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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 92% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $131,630 spent. MICROGRANTS PROVIDES TIMELY GRANTS UP TO $1,500 TO PEOPLE OF POTENTIAL SEEKING TO IMPROVE THEIR ECONOMIC STABILITY THROUGH EDUCATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FILL FUNDING GAPS WHERE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE UNAVAILABLE, HELPING INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND BREAK CYCLES OF POVERTY.GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE IDENTIFIED AND SUPPORTED BY A NETWORK OF PARTNER AGENCIES THAT ASSIST APPLICANTS THROUGHOUT THE GRANT PROCESS AND PROVIDE COACHING AND MENTORSHIP TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. IN 2025, MICROGRANTS DISTRIBUTED 64 GRANTS TOTALING $63,302. OF THOSE SERVED, 82.8% IDENTIFIED AS BIPOC, 100% REPORTED AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE AND 91.7% REPORTED INCREASED INCOME.
- $435,683 spent. LIGHTS ON! IS AN AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM THAT REPLACES EQUIPMENT VIOLATION TICKETS WITH REPAIR VOUCHERS, HELPING LOW-INCOME DRIVERS ADDRESS SAFETY-RELATED VEHICLE REPAIRS WITHOUT INCURRING FINES AND FEES THEY CANNOT AFFORD. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND LOCAL REPAIR SHOPS, THE PROGRAM IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY BY KEEPING SAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WHILE FOSTERING POSITIVE COMMUNITY-POLICE RELATIONSHIPS.IN 2025, LIGHTS ON! FUNDED $118,790 IN REPAIRS VIA 100+ LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM EXPANDED ITS SIDEWALKS AND STREETS INITIATIVE, A COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL THAT DISTRIBUTES REPAIR VOUCHERS THROUGH BLOCK PARTY-STYLE EVENTS WITHOUT REQUIRING A TRAFFIC STOP. SIDEWALKS AND STREETS HOSTED 6 EVENTS AND THAT DISTRIBUTED 175 VOUCHERS AND GAVE WAY 90 BIKES, SCOOTERS AND HELMETS, AND PROVIDED 348 MEALS. ONE IN FOUR VOUCHER RECIPIENTS REPORTED THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR WITHOUT THE VOUCHER, DEMONSTRATING THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT IN REDUCING FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND SUPPORTING PATHWAYS TOWARD GREATER ECONOMIC STABILITY.
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
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.