Caracole Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE POSITIVELY CHANGE LIVES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS THROUGH PREVENTION, HOUSING AND CARE.
- Income
- $14.3 million
- Spending
- $14.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 47%
- Employees
- 89
- Volunteers
- 288
- Highest pay
- $162,346, chief executive officer
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 29 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
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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $13.4 million spent. IN 2024, CARACOLE SERVED 1,165 CLIENTS LIVING WITH HIV IN CASE MANAGEMENT AND THE PHARMACY FILLED 9,585 PRESCRIPTIONS WHILE COVERING ALL COPAYS AND RELATED EXPENSES. OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT PROVIDED 204 PEOPLE IN 146 HOUSEHOLDS WITH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHILE PROVIDING SHORT TERM ASSISTANCE TO 24 HOUSEHOLDS. OUR PREVENTION DEPARTMENT PERFORMED 922 HIV TESTS IN-PERSON TESTS AND DISTRIBUTED 680 AT-HOME HIV TESTS. THE SYRINGE SERVICES PROGRAM HOSTED 4,572 VISITS FROM 143 ZIP CODES IN OUR REGION. WE DISTRIBUTED 316,620 SYRINGES, 1,736 DOSES OF NALOXONE AND 4,160 FENTANYL TEST STRIPS. THE HARM REDUCTION VENDING MACHINE DISPENSED SUPPLIES TO 945 PARTICIPANTS. THE ITEMS THAT WERE RECEIVED WERE 605 AT-HOME HIV TESTS, 22,949 SAFER USE AND SAFER SEX KITS AND 12,073 DOSES OF NALOXONE.
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 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 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 February 1988.
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.