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Our Community La

EIN 27-3782128 · Santa Monica, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR COMMUNITY LA (OCLA) LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY TO EMPOWER YOUTH, FAMILIES AND ADULTS IN NEED OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESS TO EASILY CONNECT TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. OCLA IS COMMITTED TO SOCIAL JUSTICE; WE ENVISION A WORLD IN WHICH NO ONE WILL BE UNHOUSED OR STRUGGLING WITH DEEP RESOURCE-INSECURE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIND HELP. THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT HOUSING OR WHO ARE IN NEED OF ESSENTIAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WILL KNOW THAT THEY ARE VALUED, THEIR DIGNITY AND PRIVACY ARE RESPECTED AND THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO SEARCH FOR AND CHOOSE THE HELP THEY NEED TO BUILD A LIFE OUT OF POVERTY OR ABUSE. UNDERSTANDING THAT THE HOMELESS AND RESOURCE-INSECURE HAVE SMART PHONES (THANKS IN PART TO THE FEDERAL LIFELINE PROGRAM), OCLA USES TECHNOLOGY TO DIRECTLY SERVE THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK WITH ITS FREE PROGRAMS: THE USER-FRIENDLY MOBILE APPLICATION, WIN (WHAT I NEED), AN EASY TO-READ PRINT DIRECTORY OF SERVICES FOR LA HOMELESS YOUTH AND ADULTS (AVAILABLE IN LOCAL LIBRARIES AND

Income
$346,161
Spending
$208,571
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
16.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
16
Volunteers
30

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $79,846 spent. WIN WHAT I NEED IS A FREE MOBILE APPLICATION DESIGNED TO EMPOWER REGIONAL HOMELESS OR RESOURCE-INSECURE YOUTH, (AGES 12-25), FAMILIES, STUDENTS, SENIORS AND OTHER ADULTS TO CONNECT TO 12 CATEGORIES OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THE PROTOTYPE WAS FIRST RELEASED IN THE GOOGLEPLAY AND ITUNES STORES IN NOVEMBER 2015, AND WAS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR USE ON OCLA'S WEBSITE AT OCLAWIN.ORG. WHILE THE ORIGINAL APP WAS DEVELOPED TO SERVE LA COUNTY AREA YOUTH ONLY (AGES 12-24), IN RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR EXPANSION, IN 2018 OCLA REDESIGNED AND EXPANDED WIN'S CAPACITY TO SERVE NOT ONLY YOUTH BUT ALSO ADULTS AND FAMILIES. IN 2020 WIN'S DATABASE WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE UNIQUE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VULNERABLE SENIORS AS WELL. WIN (MOBILE AND WEB) WAS TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH AND RELEASED IN THE APP STORES AND ON OCLA'S WEBSITE IN OCTOBER OF 2021. WIN NOW EMPOWERS ENGLISH AND SPANISH USERS OF ANY AGE TO LOCATE AND CONNECT TO OVER 2400 PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN ACCESS WITHOUT A REFERRAL. WIN USERS CAN ALSO RECEIVE REGULAR HELPFUL ALERTS ABOUT FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS, RESOURCE FAIRS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. TODAY WIN SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF ANYONE IN NEED TO LOCATE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, USING TECHNOLOGY THAT PEOPLE TODAY TRUST, CELL PHONES AND THE INTERNET. (THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOMELESS AND RESOURCE INSECURE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SMART PHONES DUE TO THE FEDERAL LIFELINE PROGRAM AND CAN ACCESS THE INTERNET USING WI-FI. FREE WI-FI IS WIDELY AVAILABLE AT LIBRARIES AND COFFEE SHOPS IN LA COUNTY.)THE WIN APP WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE GUIDANCE AND INPUT OF REGIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AND ADULTS. OCLA MANAGES AND OPERATES THIS SEARCHABLE APPLICATION IN LA COUNTY, AND MAINTAINS THE SUPPORTING DATABASE, OFFERING INFORMATION AND LIVE CONNECTIONS TO OVER 2400 AREA PROGRAMS PROVIDING FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH/MENTAL HEALTH, LEGAL, DROP-IN/ACCESS CENTERS, JOBS, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT BENEFITS, HOTLINES, CRISIS SUPPORTS AND MORE. WIN'S PROGRAM DATABASE IS REGULARLY UPDATED BY STAFF SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING THOSE FROM LA WORKS, AND REPAIR THE WORLD.WIN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP 3 RESOURCES FOR LA'S HOMELESS YOUTH AND IS FEATURED ON THE LA HOMELESS SERVICES AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE AND LA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION'S WEBSITE. COUNTYWIDE PARTNERS WHO PROMOTE WIN TO THEIR CLIENTS INCLUDE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, THE REGIONAL HOUSING SERVICES AUTHORITY, NUMEROUS NONPROFITS, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND UNIVERSITIES. WIN AND OCLA ARE RECOGNIZED IN THE NATIONAL CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY DIRECTORY. HONORS INCLUDE ROTARY STAR AWARD, "KNOWLEDGE SHARING", OPERATION CHILDREN HUMANITARIAN OF YEAR AWARDS (TO FOUNDER FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WIN), AND RECEIPT OF THE CALIFORNIA SENATE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION AS WELL AS A COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES COMMENDATION.MANY LOCAL HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS REQUIRE THEIR STAFF AND/OR CLIENTS TO DOWNLOAD WIN BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST RESOURCE ACCESS TOOL IN THE COUNTY. WIN IS SCALABLE AND DESIGNED WITH THE CAPACITY TO ADD AND SERVE OTHER REGIONS. WIN'S MOST IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENT HOWEVER IS THAT STREET YOUTH AND ADULTS HAVE TOLD US THAT WIN EMPOWERS THEM TO FIND HELP, OFFERS HOPE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ITS VERY EXISTENCE MAKES THEM FEEL VALUED AND WORTHY OF SUPPORT. UNLIKE OTHER SERVICES, WIN NEVER REQUIRES USERS TO SIGN-IN; IT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND TRULY A LOW-BARRIER TOOL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED.
  2. $29,543 spent. WIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE OUTREACH- IN THE FALL OF 2023, OCLA LAUNCHED AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN DIRECTLY ON THE CAMPUSES OF 4 LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS AND RESOURCE INSECURE STUDENTS. OCLA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGE COORDINATOR HAS LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS AND OFFERS GENUINE UNDERSTANDING AND VOICE TO THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE. THE GOAL OF THE COLLEGE OUTREACH IS TO RAISE AWARENESS AMONG STUDENTS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY TO LOCAL SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO USE BOTH THE WIN APP AND THE HUD SURVEY TOOL TO FIND NEEDED HELP. THE CAMPUS OUTREACH PROGRAM NOW ONLY OFFERS WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS, AND TRAINS COLLEGE STAFF IN HOW WIN CAN SUPPORT STRUGGLING STUDENTS, IT ALSO EMPLOYS LOCAL STUDENTS TO SERVE AS WIN AMBASSADORS TO PROVIDE PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION ABOUT WIN.
  3. $12,711 spent. TEAM WIN: TEAM WIN IS A PAID PART-TIME SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING AND MENTORING PROGRAM FOR A SMALL COHORT OF HOMELESS OR NEARLY HOMELESS YOUTH. YOUTH ARE TRAINED IN SOCIAL MEDIA SKILLS, (SUCH AS HOW TO MAKE VIDEOS, USE TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM), IN SUPPORT OF PROMOTING AWARENESS ABOUT THE WIN APP IN THE COMMUNITY. PRE-COVID YOUTH ENGAGED IN IN-PERSON OUTREACH AT LOCAL HOMELESS COALITION MEETINGS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WIN. DURING 2020, TEAM WIN SHOT AND PRODUCED 2 HOW TO USE WIN VIDEOS, (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH). IN 2021 TEAM WIN SHOT AND BEGAN RELEASING SEVERAL "HOW-TO SURVIVE" WITH WIN VIDEO SERIES INCLUDING HOW TO OBTAIN HYGIENE PRODUCTS, COOKING WITH FOOD FROM A FOOD PANTRY, AND MORE. THEY HAVE SINCE ADDED VOICES OF TEAM WIN, A BLOG HOSTED ON OCLA'S WEBSITE, SHOWCASING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THOSE OF OTHERS WHO ARE ATTENDING COLLEGE WHILE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND RESOURCE INSECURITY. THEY ALSO ARE CREATING AND RELEASING A SERIES OF COOKING VIDEOS ENTITLED COOKING WITH PEARL WHICH ARE HOSTED ON OCLA'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
  4. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE $47,754 OF VARIOUS EXPENSES RELATED TO OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMS

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 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 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 July 2011.

    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.