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Community Works West Inc

EIN 20-5278030 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO TRANSFORM JUSTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND POLICY ROOTED IN HUMANITY AND HEALING. WE AIM TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ENTERING AND RE-ENTERING THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND SUPPORT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMED BY MASS INCARCERATION.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
59
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$164,057, co-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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $3.3 million spent. COMMUNITY WORKS WEST PROGRAMS ARE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND ROOTED IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND THE ARTS.OUR SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AT ANY STAGE OF JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT AND INCLUDE FOUR KEY AREAS:1) TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMS ALLOW PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF THEIR BEHAVIOR, MAKE AMENDS, AND FORGE A NEW PATH. WE WORK BOTH WITH PEOPLE INCARCERATED AND WITH THE SURVIVORS OF THEIR HARM.2) RESTORATIVE REENTRY PROGRAMS SUPPORT TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH AND ADULTS COMING HOME AFTER INCARCERATION AND...(CONT. ON SCHEDULE O) COMBINE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, ARTISTIC CREATION, AND FAMILY SYSTEMS WORK TO SUPPORT A SUCCESSFUL RETURN HOME.3) YOUTH POWER PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH AND SUPPORT THEM IN HARNESSING THEIR POWER SO THEY CAN SPEAK THE TRUST TO HELP BREAK THE CYCLICAL IMPACTS OF MASS INCARCERATION AND CHANGE THE SYSTEMS THAT CREATE THAT CYCLE.4) CHANGING SYSTEMS IS HOW WE TRANSLATE THE LESSONS FROM OUR DIRECT SERVICE WORK. BY HONORING LIVED EXPERIENCE AS EXPERTISE, THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY LEND THEIR VOICES TO COLLECTIVE ACTIONS THAT SEEK A FUTURE WHERE JUSTICE HEALS RATHER THAN HARMS.

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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 August 2007.

    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 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.