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Contina Impact

EIN 36-4657870 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO SERVE AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND PHILANTHROPIC DISBURSEMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATION, AND OTHER ENTITIES, TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO YOUTH-SERVING AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND TO COORDINATE EDUCATION AND OTHER POLICY EFFORTS.

Income
$21.7 million
Spending
$13.5 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$12,000, executive director

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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 220% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (7)
  1. $5.6 million spent. GUARDIAN FUND: THE GUARDIAN FUND HAS INVESTED IN LEGAL, SECURITY, CYBERSECURITY, ANDCRISIS COMMUNICATIONS WORK FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAME UNDER THREAT FOR THEIR WORK ON BEHALF OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.DEMOCRACY COMMUNICATIONS COLLABORATIVE & FUND:THE DEMOCRACY COMMUNICATIONS COLLABORATIVE AND FUND PROJECT BUILDS DURABLE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LIBERAL DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC VALUES THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS. ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON FIELD COORDINATION, THE PROVISION OF SHARED RESOURCES SUCH AS PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH, AND THE MANAGEMENT OF A POOLED DONOR FUND.DEMOCRACY FUNDERS NETWORK:WE FISCALLY SPONSORED A PROJECT THAT SERVES AS A LEARNING AND ACTION COMMUNITY FOR DONORS CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. THAT PROJECT HELD A MAJOR CONVENING OF DONORS FROM ACROSS THE IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM TO DISCUSS HOW TO ENSURE DEMOCRACY DELIVERS FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, AND IT ADVISED FUNDERS ON THEIR PHILANTHROPIC STRATEGIES AND GRANTMAKING IN THE DEMOCRACY SPACE.
  2. $2.8 million spent. A NEWER PROJECT OF POLICY IMPACT, THE DEMOCRACY COMMUNICATIONS FUND SERVES ASA POOLED DONOR FUND THAT INVESTS IN RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS WORK TO BUILD PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR U.S. DEMOCRACY, WITH AN INITIAL FOCUS ON BUILDING TRUST IN ELECTIONS.
  3. $2.5 million spent. WE FISCALLY SPONSORED A PROJECT WITH A CROSS-IDEOLOGICAL NETWORK OF CIVIC LEADERS AND INFLUENCERS WHO MEET BIANNUALLY IN PERSON, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR VIRTUALLY, TO DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES FACING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REVITALIZE OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE. WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A CONTRACT WITH A CROSS-IDEOLOGICAL LEARNING AND ACTION COMMUNITY FOR DONORS CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. THIS PROJECT PRODUCED NUMEROUS REPORTS ABOUT DEMOCRACY, HOSTED MAJOR CONVENINGS FOR DEMOCRACY FUNDERS, AND HELPED EDUCATE PHILANTHROPY ABOUT INVESTING IN DEMOCRACY.
  4. $654,943 spent. DEMOCRACY SOS IS A MULTI-PRONGED PROACTIVE INTERVENTION SUPPORTING NEWSROOMS IN ADVANCING DEMOCRACY. ITS MISSION IS TO HELP PEOPLE WORKING IN JOURNALISM TO ADJUST, IMPROVE AND EVEN RE-IMAGINE HOW THEY SERVE AND EMPOWER A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY. THE PROJECT BRINGS TOGETHER INITIATIVES, TRAINING AND RESOURCES FROM PARTNERS, COLLABORATORS AND ACROSS THE FIELD.
  5. $638,020 spent. ONE OF OUR PROJECTS PROVIDED EARLY DETECTION AND EARLY WARNING INSIGHTS TO CIVIL SOCIETY, ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS, AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS WORKING IN THE ELECTION FIELD IN ORDER TO PROMOTE EARLY DETECTION OF DISINFORMATION NARRATIVES AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE. THIS ABILITY ALLOWED FOR COMMUNICATORS AND INDIVIDUALS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY DETECT AND MITIGATE THESE TYPES OF THREATS. THIS PROJECT DEVELOPED DEEP DIVE REPORTS INTO THE DISINFORMATION AND MISINFORMATION LANDSCAPE, WITH THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THE REPORTS PUBLIC.
  6. $193,400 spent. WE PARTICIPATED IN A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR A TEAM OF LEGISLATIVE STAFF TO DEVELOP BIPARTISAN RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE EDUCATIONAL OPPROTUNITIES WITH EXPERTS.
  7. $800,951 spent. DURING THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SPONSORED A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, DIALOGUE, AND SOCIAL IMPACT. THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDED PROGRAMS SUPPORTING CONSTRUCTIVE JOURNALISM AND STORYTELLING THAT BRIDGE DIVIDES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS, AND COLLABORATIONS THAT EXPAND COLLEGE ACCESS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS. OTHER SPONSORED EFFORTS EMPOWERED VETERANS TO ADVANCE DEMOCRATIC VALUES, FOSTERED PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS, AND CREATED PUBLIC FORUMS AND PODCASTS HIGHLIGHTING EMPATHY, INCLUSION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. COLLECTIVELY, THESE PROJECTS STRENGTHEN CIVIC LIFE, ENCOURAGE INFORMED DISCOURSE, AND BUILD PATHWAYS FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS AND SHARED UNDERSTANDING ACROSS COMMUNITIES.

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 January 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.