The California Center for Civic Participation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO EDUCATE CALIFORNIA YOUTH ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
- Income
- $361,475
- Spending
- $347,815
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $114,125, executive dir.
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 52% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $297,285 spent. CalCenter prepares young people to serve as catalysts for change in their communities and beyond. Across all of our programs, youth center lived experience and community voices to shape solutions, lead local action, and advocate for policy change with local and statewide decision-makers. We bring civic participation to life by connecting young people to real issues, real people, and the real spaces where decisions are madeclosing the gap between understanding systems and transforming them.Our work is grounded in a partnership-based model that rejects top-down approaches to youth engagement. Young people are collaborators and leaders, not participants, and their insights inform both our programs and our organizational direction.Young Climate Champions supports youth in building climate literacy and leadership, equipping them to connect environmental justice issues to their own communities and take action rooted in equity and care for future generations.Youth Lead the Charge creates paid leadership pathways for young people to build skills in collaboration, outreach, and advocacy while working side-by-side with CalCenter staff to design and lead community-based projects.Shake the Future Up mobilizes and organizes young people to shape the future of civic participationengaging their peers around voting, policy, and collective action through creative, youth-led approaches.In addition to these core programs, CalCenter hosts and co-creates community events that expand access to civic learning, strengthen youth leadership, and advance a more inclusive and representative democracy.
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 November 6, 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 February 1972.
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 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.