Polis Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To champion human dignity by designing the solutions to the social problems that infringe upon it.
- Income
- $506,021
- Spending
- $486,514
- Spent on programs
- 59%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 56%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $7,943, secretary
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: 37 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1559% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 10Did not give 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, 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)
- $169,885 spent. Community Development - Polis Institute provides capacity building and community engagement work in partnership with communities municipalities businesses and the philanthropic sector for the purpose of revitalizing urban communities. The community development work that Polis Institute provides aims to ensure that all stakeholders participate in community development in ways that create sustainable economic and racial equity within urban neighborhoods. African American and Latino communities are our primary focus in community development work. All of Polis Institutes work is done with an asset based community development approach. Community Development consulting by Polis Institute includes engagement and public participation plans training community and strategic plan development.
- $42,092 spent. Strong Families - The strong families platform give families a platform for inter-generational family bonding that opens up social network opportunities and resources for families pursuing healthy family goals in areas of health wealth and education. The program offers four components of involvement family network dinners parenting cohorts one to one parent coaching and a childrens reading club.
- $74,458 spent. Research and Planning - Rich data is at the heart of Polis Institutes work. Polis Institute provides qualitative and quantitative place based data sets comprehensive surveying services with an emphasis on door to door surveying asset mapping solutions research and third party evaluation services.`
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? 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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2010.
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.