Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Advocates for Community Transformation

EIN 27-0178272 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION (ACT) EQUIPS UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS TO FIGHT CRIME ON THEIR STREETS USING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNERS TO MAKE SAFETY A REALITY FOR EVERYONE.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
42
Volunteers
465
Highest pay
$165,250, vp of dfw im

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

Weak: 43 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 93 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 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 (1)
  1. $2.9 million spent. ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION (ACT) IS A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION THAT EXISTS TO MAKE STRONGER AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS A NORMAL REALITY FOR EVERYONE. ACT CARRIES OUT THIS VISION THROUGH EMPOWERING RESIDENTS LIVING IN HIGH-CRIME AREAS TO STOP ILLEGAL ACTIVITY ON THEIR STREET USING THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOUNDED ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND A DESIRE TO SEE SHALOM USHERED BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ACT USES CIVIL LAW TO SHUT DOWN THESE HOUSES THAT EAT AWAY AT THE FIBER OF ONCE PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. ACT'S LEGAL ADVOCACY MODEL IS A PRIVATE SOLUTION TO THE PUBLIC PROBLEM THESE DRUG HOUSES POSE. ACT USES EXISTING CIVIL LAWS TO BRING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE OWNERS OF THE DRUG HOUSES SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF THAT FORCES THE CESSATION OF THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. IN 15 YEARS, ACT HAS SHUT DOWN OVER 256 DRUG HOUSES, IMPACTING MORE THAN 39,000 OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE WITHIN JUST 0.1 MILE OF THE SHUTTERED HOUSES. THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH DISRUPTS THIS FIGHT AND PROVIDES A WINNING SOLUTION THAT BRINGS NEIGHBORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS TOGETHER USING EXISTING CIVIL LAW TO TACKLE THIS ENTRENCHED PROBLEM THAT PLAGUES EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. ACT'S UNIQUE LEGAL ADVOCACY APPROACH IS A PRIVATE SOLUTION TO A PUBLIC PROBLEM. ACT'S MODEL TAKES EXISTING LAWS - TRADITIONALLY ONLY UTILIZED BY MUNICIPALITIES - AND PUTS THE POWER OF THOSE LAWS INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM, THE RESIDENTS. THIS COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN APPROACH COMPLEMENTS THE WORK OF THE POLICE AND THE CITY, RESULTING IN TANGIBLE CHANGE THAT IS LONG-LASTING. ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION (ACT) IS A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION THAT EXISTS TO MAKE STRONGER AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS A NORMAL REALITY FOR EVERYONE. ACT CARRIES OUT THIS VISION THROUGH EMPOWERING RESIDENTS LIVING IN HIGH-CRIME AREAS TO STOP ILLEGAL ACTIVITY ON THEIR STREET USING THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOUNDED ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND A DESIRE TO SEE SHALOM USHERED BACK TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, ACT USES CIVIL LAW TO SHUT DOWN THESE HOUSES THAT EAT AWAY AT THE FIBER OF ONCE PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. ACT'S LEGAL ADVOCACY MODEL IS A PRIVATE SOLUTION TO THE PUBLIC PROBLEM THESE DRUG HOUSES POSE. ACT USES EXISTING CIVIL LAWS TO BRING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE OWNERS OF THE DRUG HOUSES SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF THAT FORCES THE CESSATION OF THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. IN 15 YEARS, ACT HAS SHUT DOWN OVER 256 DRUG HOUSES, IMPACTING MORE THAN 39,000 OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE WITHIN JUST 0.1 MILE OF THE SHUTTERED HOUSES. THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH DISRUPTS THIS FIGHT AND PROVIDES A WINNING SOLUTION THAT BRINGS NEIGHBORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS TOGETHER USING EXISTING CIVIL LAW TO TACKLE THIS ENTRENCHED PROBLEM THAT PLAGUES EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. ACT'S UNIQUE LEGAL ADVOCACY APPROACH IS A PRIVATE SOLUTION TO A PUBLIC PROBLEM. ACT'S MODEL TAKES EXISTING LAWS - TRADITIONALLY ONLY UTILIZED BY MUNICIPALITIES - AND PUTS THE POWER OF THOSE LAWS INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM, THE RESIDENTS. THIS COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN APPROACH COMPLEMENTS THE WORK OF THE POLICE AND THE CITY, RESULTING IN TANGIBLE CHANGE THAT IS LONG-LASTING.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 December 2010.

    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.