Participatory Budgeting Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 45% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO DECIDE TOGETHER HOW TO SPEND PUBLIC MONEY.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 45%
- Reserves
- 13.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $102,309, co- 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 68% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1545% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 32% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
- $843,054 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: WE PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO STRATEGIC PB PROCESSES AND INSTITUTIONS, IN ORDER TO GROW AND IMPROVE THE PRACTICE OF PB. THIS WORK INCLUDES DELIVERING TRAININGS, MATERIALS, COACHING, AND OTHER SUPPORT TO STAFF FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS, TO ENABLE THEM TO IMPLEMENT HIGH-IMPACT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES.
- $17,290 spent. PARTICIPATION LAB: WE DEVELOP AND TEST INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS THAT STREAMLINE PB AND DEEPEN, MEASURE, AND COMMUNICATE ITS IMPACTS. WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT AND EXPAND PB BY MAKING THE PROCESS EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE. THIS WORK INCLUDES DEVELOPING TRAININGS, GUIDES, AND INNOVATIVE TOOLS SUCH AS TECHNOLOGY, VIDEOS, AND GAMES, TO ADDRESS KEY PB PROCESS CHALLENGES.
- $42,932 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: THE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM MANAGES THE ORGANIZATIONS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY, IT OVERSEES MESSAGING, BRANDING, MEDIA RELATIONS, DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT (WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND NEWSLETTER), AND PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC-FACING MATERIALS. THE PROGRAM ENSURES CONSISTENT, ACCURATE, AND MISSION-ALIGNES COMMUNICATION ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS, SUPPORTS FUNDRAISING AND PROGRAM INITIATIVES WITH TAILORED CONTENT, AND MAINTAINS DOCUMENTATION OF COMMUNICATION OUTPUTS AND APPROVAL FOR COMPLIANCE AND EVALUATION PURPOSES.
- $30,919 spent. OTHER 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
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 June 2012.
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.