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Alliance for Community Empowerment

EIN 46-2811886 · Canoga Park, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACE'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RESIDENTS BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING SUPPORT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, VIOLENCE INTERVENTION/PREVENTION, AND ADVOCACY - TO BUILD RESILIENCE, ACHIEVE STABILITY, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$6.5 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
83
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$193,515, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 89% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. ACE'S COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM (CVI) OFFERS PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 14 WHO ARE GANG INVOLVED OR INFLUENCED BY GANGS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO NAVIGATE AND OVERCOME LIFE'S CHALLENGES. THIS FREE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE ANTI-SOCIAL TENDENCIES, IMPULSE RISK-TAKING, NEGATIVE PEER INFLUENCE, DELINQUENCY, AND SUBSTANCE USE THROUGH POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT. OUR CVI STAFF FACILITATE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATED RESPONSES TO ADDRESS GANG VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AREA. OUR INTERVENTIONISTS ENGAGE IN ONGOING DE-ESCALATION AND PEACEMAKING EFFORTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. FY25: CVI ENROLLED 112 PARTICIPANTS, CONDUCTED 1,246 (SEE SCH. O) HOURS OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AND RESPONDED TO 78 INCIDENTS OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.
  2. $1.6 million spent. ACE'S SECTOR PROGRAM PROVIDES REENTRY SERVICES, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT, MENTORSHIP, AND JOB PLACEMENT FOR ADULTS IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS IN FORGING PATHWAYS INTO NEW CAREERS THAT OFFER SUSTAINABLE WAGES, GOOD BENEFITS, AND ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS AND STABILITY. SECTOR ALSO PROVIDES WRAP AROUND SERVICES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. FY25: 209 JUSTICE IMPACTED ADULTS WERE SERVED, 105 RECIEVED JOB TRAINING, 96% DID NOT REOFFEND WHILE ENROLLED.
  3. $1.4 million spent. RUTH YOUTHBUILD IS A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFERING A WASC-ACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, HANDS-ON PAID VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. WITH A CURRICULUM GROUNDED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT, PARTICIPANTS EARN WHILE THEY LEARN AND GRADUATE WITH CERTIFICATIONS, CAREER SKILLS, AND A CLEAR PATHWAY TO EMPLOYMENT OR COLLEGE, ALL WHILE CONNECTING MORE DEEPLY TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUMS THAT FAIL TO SUPPORT YOUTH WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH INCARCERATION, GANG INVOLVEMENT, HOMELESSNESS, FOSTER CARE, AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE. FY25: 142 YOUTH REENGAGED IN HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, 27 (SEE SCH. O) GRADUATED WITH THIER HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, 35 RECIEVED AN INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL, 75 CO-ENROLLED IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
  4. $1.2 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDES ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO EMPOWER SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RESIDENTS THROUGH EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING SUPPORT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION, AND ADVOCACY. WHILE NOT REPORTED SEPARATELY DUE TO THEIR SIZE OR SCOPE, THESE EFFORTS COMPLEMENT CORE PROGRAMS AND ADDRESS EMERGING COMMUNITY NEEDS.

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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on April 15, 2016.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.