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Black Organizing Project Inc

EIN 46-4578588 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Black Organizing Project is a Black, member-led community organization working for racial, social, and economic justice through grassroots organizing and community building across the Bay Area.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
28.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
22
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$187,857, executive dir.

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 (3)
  1. $732,785 spent. Outreach & Leadership DevelopmentThe Organization uses various means to develop future leaders. Adult community members participate in training, dialogues, book clubs, and peer learning. These spaces provide healing and transformation and connect members to themselves and their communities. Members develop analysis, strengthen leadership skills, and build a powerful vision for the future. Participants ranging in age from 0 to 100 benefit from a number of programs, including youth-centered activities. The Organizations spaces are centered on galvanizing the power of the Black community, developing an analysis, and creating a vision for changing conditions within Oakland schools and communities.
  2. $382,257 spent. BOSS (Bettering Our School System)BOSS seeks to end the criminalization of Black and Brown students by eliminating the OUSD school police department and developing new alternative approaches to safety. The Organizations work is to hold the district accountable to address the criminalization of OUSD students and invest in restorative justice, social workers, and educators. Members are active in the campaign and continue to be the guiding force toward winning change. These are the folks most impacted by the policies that are being developed to create a healthier environment for families in Oakland and beyond.
  3. $252,716 spent. Communications & Digital OrganizingThe Organization uses different platforms to heal the collective community, and its broad communications strategy allows it to connect the lives and stories of folks in the Bay Area to those of folks in other parts of the country and the world. Through narrative and storytelling work on social media, the Organization reaches out to a broader constituency. Specifically, the Organization has tailored weekly posts with infographics through social-media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to draw attention to systemic racial oppression of Black people. The intention of the Organizations communications is to draw a connection between individual injustices and the larger systemic issue. Communication of the Organizations work in these arenas has been helpful in educating people around the world about the truth that Black communities experience every day.

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 July 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 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.