Oakland Communities United for Equity and Justice
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Oakland Communities for Equity & Justice (OCUEJ)s Self-Help Hunger Program (SHHP) connects the dots between food waste, food justice, nutritional support and food industry-related employment/business opportunities for those experiencing skyrocketing rates of homelessness and displacement-vulnerability.
- Income
- $156,064
- Spending
- $168,600
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $74,202 spent. The Self-Help Hunger Nutritional Support Program (SHHP) serves over 700 unduplicated individuals with 200 points-of-service on a monthly basis. Annual turnover on unduplicated individuals approaches 20%.Four days weekly, our Free Food Pantry at Oaklands Jasper Driver Plaza City Park offers fresh produce and non-perishable foods, augmented by varying amounts of surplus pre-cooked foods rescued from restaurants and other nutritional support programs. During 2025, the Self Help Hunger Program rescued 282597 lbs from waste. The food (fresh produce and pre-cooked foods) were served through our program or shared with one of our 6 partnering programs offering free produce/meals.The program is operated by stipend workers who benefit from job training and reentry into society after incarceration, homelessness and addiction treatment.Our Cooks For Food Justice Project provides just over 125 nutritious, culturally-appropriate prepared meals made with ingredients diverted from the waste stream weekly.OCUEJ also organizes several events to support the Black community of Oakland and South Berkeley. The events present relevant cultural programming as well as bringing together resources for struggling families. Self Help Hunger program also sponsors the Dover park Garden project in North Oakland, The Dargahrden Food Projects (Souper Saucer), as well as tranquilityRx and The Healing Place program starting this yearThe Dargahrden Food Projects offers free soups to over 400 people weekly. Ingredients are provided through Self Help Hunger Program. tranquilityRx offers free massages and anti trauma touch therapy for free to underserved communities, and veterans.The Healing Place offers animal therapy to people affected by trauma. And organizes petting zoos for events directed towards underserved communities.We also provide two public toilets for the North Oakland community (one in Dover Park, one in Jasper P Driver Plaza).Additional services: housing referrals, legal support, job preparedness and training.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 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 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 May 2018.
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.