Rochester Alliance of Communities Transforming Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RocACTS is grassroots, multi-racial, urban-suburban, interfaith organization working for racial and economic equality that is a part of the Faith in Action Network, a faith-based community organizing network. RocACTS trains and empowers people to shape the political, social, and economic decisions that impact their lives. Since incorporating in 2014, Rochester ACTS has been organizing on issues related to economic and racial equity. The task forces, Education, Poverty/Jobs/Housing, and Justice System have successfully organized across a range of issues. Two new additional task forces, Climate Justice and Voting Rights were added in 2021.
- Income
- $47,145
- Spending
- $113,104
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 140% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
- $98,187 spent. RocACTS is committed to bringing faith communities together to build relationships and understanding across racial lines and address structural racism.The Climate Justice Task Force advocated and encouraged advocacy on the NY Climate Action Scoping Plan. They encouraged RocACTS to join other Faith in Action organizations in becoming members of NY Renews and joining them in advocating for climate justice. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act set up a Climate Action Council and charged them with assembling a scoping plan to give the details of keeping NYS on the schedule of reduction of Green House Gases and transitioning the state to a renewable energy economy. Co-sponsored and participated in a garden build on Samuel McCrea Way with Flower City Noire Collective.The Education Task Force continues to focus on the inclusion of an anti-racist curriculum, increased diversity in teacher hiring, professional development in cultural responsiveness and restorative practice, and improvement in the school culture.The Task Force and The Children's Agenda partnered on a project to reduce the use of exclusionary discipline practices in the PreK environment and to use proven interventions that keep children in the school setting. RocACTS was awarded a grant from Ben & Jerry's Foundation to pursue this work. The Justice System Task Force organized its work around specific public policy campaigns, tracking bills, actions, coalition partners, and support from our delegation. On the federal level, supported the People Act, George Floyd Policing Act, Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, and Build Back Better Act.State initiatives included Daniel's Law, Parole Justice (Fair & Timely, Elder Parole), and Bail Reform.They advocate the reduction of gun violence by participating in Homicide Prayer Vigils. JSTF encourages participation in simple weekly prayer vigils for victims of homicide at the site of the homicide, should they occur.The Poverty/Jobs/Housing Task Force continues to work toward affordable housing. They collaborated with the city-wide tenant's union, 1199 SEIU, Citizen Action, and the Working Families Party, to campaign for Good Cause eviction law, and put our focus on state legislation. The Task Force supported the City-Wide tenant's union and participated in RMAPI's frontline workers' cohort to address barriers to employment for residents of Rochester and Monroe County.The Voting Rights Task Force worked with the League of Women Voters to educate the community on voting rights and the importance of voting and conducted numerous voter registration initiatives to incentivize citizens to participate in the current elections. They distributed voter registration materials to students so they could register so 18-year-olds could vote in the next eligible election and 16 and 17-year-olds could be pre-registered for future elections. Collaborations: Daniel's Law Coalition, Color of Change. Parole Justice Coalition: VOCAL-NY, Clean Slate Coalition, FTP Roc, RAPP, SURJ Roc.Clean Slate Coalition: Metro Justice, Monroe County Public Defender's Office, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, VOCAL-NY.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 13, 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 January 2015.
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 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.