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Public Advocates Inc

EIN 23-7103042 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOR MORE THAN FIVE DECADES, PUBLIC ADVOCATES HAS CHALLENGED THE SYSTEMIC CAUSES OF POVERTY AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION BY STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY VOICES IN PUBLIC POLICY AND ACHIEVING TANGIBLE LEGAL VICTORIES ADVANCING EDUCATION, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION EQUITY, AND CLIMATE JUSTICE. WE SPUR CHANGE THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH GRASSROOTS GROUPS REPRESENTING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS, COMBINED WITH STRATEGIC POLICY REFORM, MEDIA ADVOCACY, AND LITIGATION.

Income
$9.9 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
13 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
41
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$265,352, president & ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (2)
  1. $2.1 million spent. EDUCATION EQUITYPUBLIC ADVOCATES' EDUCATION EQUITY TEAM WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY EDUCATION THAT PREPARES THEM TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER, TO SUCCEED IN POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS, AND TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN CIVIC AND ECONOMIC LIFE REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE, THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, THEIR LANGUAGE, OR THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. PARTNERING WITH STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, WE ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE SCHOOL FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY, QUALIFIED AND PREPARED TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM, AND EQUAL ACCESS TO AND SUCCESS IN CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FY25 INCLUDE: ELIMINATING REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER CANDIDATES TO TAKE RACIALLY-BIASED SKILLS AND SUBJECT MATTER TESTS; PROTECTING FUNDING FOR CRITICAL EDUCATION INVESTMENTS DESPITE STATE BUDGET SHORTFALLS; WINNING POLICY TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT EQUITY AND ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM; AND BLOCKING EFFORTS TO ROLL BACK CALIFORNIA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE REMEDIAL EDUCATION REFORMS.
  2. $3.2 million spent. METROPOLITAN EQUITYTO ENSURE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY, PUBLIC ADVOCATES' METROPOLITAN EQUITY TEAM ADVOCATES FOR AFFORDABLE HOMES IN ALL COMMUNITIES, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT SERVES THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, AND SOCIALLY JUST AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE LEVELS. WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WE FIGHT TO REVERSE GENERATIONS OF HOUSING SEGREGATION AND UNFAIR ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE CO-CONVENE THE ALLIANCE FOR HOUSING JUSTICE, WHICH ANCHORS THE NATIONAL HOUSING JUSTICE GRASSROOTS TABLE AND BRINGS TOGETHER NATIONAL BASE-BUILDING NETWORKS, STATE COALITIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD ALIGNMENT AND ADVANCE NATIONAL HOUSING POLICY REFORM.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FY25 INCLUDE: SUPPORTING SUCCESSFUL EFFORT IN SALINAS TO WIN RENT STABILIZATION, JUST CAUSE FOR EVICTION, AND TENANT ANTI-HARASSMENT ORDINANCES; SUPPORTING A COMMUNITY COALITION IN VALLEJO THAT WON COMMITMENTS FOR TENANT PROTECTIONS; EXTENDING CALIFORNIA'S TENANT PROTECTION ACT TO TENANTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILT WITH LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS; WON POLICY INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF TIME TENANTS HAVE TO RESPOND TO AN EVICTION NOTICE; LED SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF A FARE INCREASE BY AN EAST BAY TRANSIT AGENCY BY EXTENDING IMPLEMENTATION; RELEASED A SERIES OF COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS ON EVALUATING THE IMPACT AND OUTCOMES OF RECENT HOUSING ELEMENT PLANS ADOPTED BY BAY AREA JURISDICTIONS.

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 November 6, 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 February 1971.

    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 November 4, 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.