Community Strategies Group
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO DEVELOP HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME PERSONS AND TO ENGAGE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
- Income
- $6.2 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -58.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 57%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $117,007, executive director
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 39% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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)
- $2.4 million spent. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: ALL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PROJECTS THAT HAVE REACHED PLANNING, FUNDRAISING, DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, COMPLIANCE, AND OPERATIONAL STAGES. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, GRANT WRITING, CONSTRUCTION, FUNDING COMPLIANCE PAPERWORK, AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
- $357,298 spent. COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT: ALL ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO A PROJECT ALREADY IN PRE-DEVELOPMENT STAGE OR LATER. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, TIME COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS (SUCH AS COALITIONS, BOARDS, AND ADVISORY COUNCILS), PROJECT RESEARCH (SUCH AS TRAVEL TO INSPECT PROPERTIES, COMMISSIONED STUDIES AND PLANS, MEETINGS WITH POTENTIAL FUNDERS NOT TIED TO AN EXISTING PROJECT, OR CONCEPT DESIGNS), FUNDRAISING FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS, MARKETING, AND ADVOCACY.
- $149,635 spent. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: ALL CSG WORK THAT DOES NOT FIT INTO THE COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT OR DEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTIONS. THESE ACTIVITIES TEND TO BE MORE PROGRAMMATIC IN NATURE, SUCH AS THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS ASSISTANCE AND REVOLVING CAR PROGRAMS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
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
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? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
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 February 2000.
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.