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Jack London Improvement District

EIN 46-3875634 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE, PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN AN INVITING ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO VISIT, LIVE OR WORK IN THE JACK LONDON DISTRICT, AND BUILD AN INCLUSIVE AND RESILIENT COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY... (SEE SCHEDULE O)

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
3
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$160,972, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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. $973,862 spent. CLEANING AND SAFETY: THE DISTRICT PROVIDES A CLEAN SAFE STREETS AMBASSADOR TEAM TO DELIVER INCREASED MAINTENANCE, LITTER REMOVAL, ILLEGAL DUMPING PICKUP AND GRAFFITI ABATEMENT FOR THE SIDEWALKS, GUTTERS, AND FIXTURES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF- WAY 7 DAYS A WEEK TO REMOVE HAZARDS AND IMPROVE THE STREET-LEVEL EXPERIENCE. THE DISTRICT CREATES A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH DISTRICT BRANDING, SIGNAGE, PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE AMENITIES, WAY-FINDING, AND PROMOTION OF VISITOR INFORMATION. HOSPITALITY AMBASSADORS CONDUCT WELFARE CHECKS WITH HOMELESS AND STREET POPULATION AND CONNECT THOSE IN NEED WITH SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE WHEN POSSIBLE.
  2. $246,264 spent. MARKETING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE JACK LONDON IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR ITS DIVERSE BUSINESSES. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: PROVIDING COLLECTIVE MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS, EVENT PRODUCTION, BUSINESS SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES RESPONSIVE TO LOCAL BUSINESS NEEDS, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS SUCH AS BLOCK PARTIES AND SPONSORED EVENTS. THE DISTRICT ALSO COORDINATES WITH THE CITY OF OAKLAND'S ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO ADVANCE THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COMMERCIAL ZONES.
  3. $162,985 spent. ADVOCACY & GOVERNANCE: THROUGH ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE DISTRICT PROVIDES A VOICE TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF JACK LONDON THROUGH A DIVERSE RANGE OF PLATFORMS AND PARTICIPATION IN LONG-RANGE PROJECTS. THE DISTRICT REPRESENTS ITS STAKEHOLDERS REGARDING PERTINENT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION, DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, AND ISSUES THAT IMPACT CONNECTIVITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN THE DISTRICT. CURRENT EFFORTS INCLUDE RESPONSIVENESS TO HOMELESSNESS, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, LAND-USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, RESILIENCY, IMPROVEMENTS TO SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN, BIKE, PUBLIC TRANSIT, AND AUTOMOBILE MOBILITY, AS WELL AS COORDINATION WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS OAKLAND BID ALLIANCE, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND AGENCIES: PORT OF OAKLAND, AMTRAK, WETA & CALTRANS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 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 August 2014.

    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 October 21, 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.