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Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement

EIN 33-0938212 · San Bernardino, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRAIN AND DEVELOP THE CAPACITY OF RELIGIOUS AND LAY LEADERS IN CONGREGATIONS AND ACROSS THE INLAND EMPIRE TO PROTECT AND REVITALIZE THE COMMUNITIES INWHICH THEY LIVE, WORK, AND WORSHIP

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
27.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
40
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$130,800, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (3)
  1. $1.8 million spent. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING: COPE IS A FAITH-BASED GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO STRENGHTENING THE CAPACITY OF CLERGY, YOUTH, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND DIRECTLY IMPACTED RESIDENTS TO PROTECT AND REVITALIZE THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, AND WORSHIP THROUGHOUT THE INLAND EMPIRE. THROUGH ORGANIZING, POLITICAL EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, COPE ADVANCES JUSTICE IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HOUSING, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, AND COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION BY EQUIPPING RESIDENTS TO ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE POLICIES AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE. AS A TRUSTED ANCHOR INSTITUTION AND CO-CONVENER OF SEVERAL LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE COALITIONS, COPE HELPS ALIGN STRATEGY, BUILD COLLECTIVE POWER, AND ADVANCE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS THAT IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR BLACK AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION AND BEYOND.
  2. $136,946 spent. OUTREACH: COPE CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL OUTREACH EFFORTS DESIGNED TO EXPAND ITS GRASSROOTS BASE,DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY, AND STRENGTHEN COLLECTIVE POWER THROUHOUT THE INLAND EMPIRE. THROUGH INTENTIONAL POLITICAL EDUCATION, COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS, FAITH-ROOTED ORGANIZING, AND DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH RESIDENTS MOST IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES, COPE CENTERS THE VOICES AND LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM IN SHAPING ADVOCACY, CAMPAIGNS, AND SOLUTIONS. BY BUILDING TRUST, DEVELOPING LEADERS, AND FOSTERING MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH CONGREGATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, YOUTH, AND DIRECTLY IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS, COPE IS CULTIVATING A STRONGER, MORE INFORMED, AND MORE CONNECTED MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
  3. $45,027 spent. HEALTH PROGRAMS: COPE HAS PARTNERED WITH NUMEROUS LOCAL CONGREGATIONS AND THE HEALTH AND SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING ITS PHARMACY DEPARTMENT, TO STRENGHTREN COMMUNITY HEALTH AWARENES AND EXPAND ACCESS TO ACCURATE, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE INFORMATION AROUND VACCINATIONS AND PUBLIC HEALTH. THROUGH FAITH-BASED OUTREACH, TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, AND GRASSROOTS ENGAGEMENT, COPE HAS HELPED BULD COMMUNITY CAPACITY BY EQUIPPING CLERGY, RESIDENTS, AND FAMILIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAKE INFORMED HEALTH DECISIONS, ADDRESS MISINFORMATION, AND PROMOTE HEALTHIER OUTCOMES IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE INLAND EMPIRE

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 March 2002.

    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.