Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Black Parent Initiative

EIN 20-5686374 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BLACK PARENT INITIATIVE EDUCATES AND MOBILIZES THE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF BLACK AND MULTI-ETHNIC CHILDREN TO ENSURE THEY ACHIEVE SUCCESS. FAMILIES OF BLACK AND MULTI-ETHNIC CHILDREN WILL BREAK GENERATIONAL CYCLES, ACHIEVING FINANCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
2.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 90%
Employees
22
Volunteers
28
Highest pay
$173,809, executive dir.

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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. BPI'S TOGETHER WE CAN (FIRST 1,000 DAYS) HOME VISITING PROGRAM SERVED 69 BLACK PARENTS AND CHILDREN WITH 212 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON HOME VISITS AND A ROBUST ARRAY OF VIRTUAL GROUP OFFERINGS DESIGNED TO BOTH PROMOTE CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND BUILD COMMUNITY AMONG PARTICIPATING FAMILIES. SACRED ROOTS PROVIDED BLACK PREGNANT WOMEN WITH EDUCATION, EMOTIONAL, TECHNICAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT THROUGH VIRTUAL, IN-PERSON AND GROUP FORMATS; SERVICES COVERED ALL PERIODS OF A WOMAN'S PREGNANCY JOURNEY, FROM PRENATAL THROUGH POSTPARTUM, INCLUDING BREASTFEEDING. OUR SACRED ROOTS DOULA AND MOBILE LACTATION SERVICES PROGRAM SUPPORTED 129 PORTLAND MOTHERS DELIVERING 133 BABIES. OUR LACTATION SERVICES SERVED 65 WOMEN AND BABIES.
  2. $911,907 spent. SAWUBONA SCHOOL PROGRAM: COMMUNITY EDUCATION, TRAINING AND OUTREACH. FOCUSES ON LITERACY, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PARENTING AND ADVOCACY. BPI ACHIEVED THESE GOALS THROUGH OUR WORK WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTS AT FIVE PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS; PROGRAMMING INCLUDED ONE-ON-ONE LITERACY TUTORING FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND STUDENT AFFINITY GROUPS AND FILM-MAKING PROJECTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THESE ACTIVITIES SUPPORT LITERACY, POSITIVE CULTURAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY/COMMUNITY CONNECTION.FY 2023-2024; FOCUSED ON TWO STRATEGIES: 1) CULTURALLY SPECIFIC FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND 2) CULTURAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY. BPI SERVED 116 STUDENTS WITH DIRECT SERVICES.
  3. $515,035 spent. BLACK FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVOCACY SUPPORT, AS WELL AS COVID-19 RELIEF, HOUSING SUPPORT, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO HELP CLIENTS SECURE ECONOMIC STABILITY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT SEARCH AND PLACEMENT. BPI ALSO PROVIDED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THE RESOURCE CENTER SERVED UPWARDS OF 500 INDIVIDUALS.

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 March 2009.

    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.