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Cgrs California Inc

EIN 47-2970078 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

mental rights of refugee women, children, and LGBT individuals fleeing persecution in their home countries by improving the quality of legal representation available to them and the policies and laws that apply to their protection here in California.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $537,319 spent. Technical Assistance & Training: CGRS-CA uses the affiliated Center's unique and efficient web-based interface to provide legal technical assistance to attorneys and other advocates representing asylum seekers throughout California. Advocates submit a request online, providing basic information about their clients country of origin, type of persecution feared, specific legal obstacles, and other relevant information. We then provide them access to tailored litigation resource materials that include, but are not limited to, practice advisories, in-depth manuals, model briefs, unpublished immigration court decisions, country conditions research, and expert witness referrals. Continued on Schedule O In addition to our materials, CGRS-California provides to nonprofit legal service providers and pro bono attorneys one-on-one litigation support, including consultations on legal theories and trial strategy, feedback on pleadings, review of evidentiary support materials, and other mentoring. With our individualized approach, each attorney we consult with is better equipped to handle their next case, thus leveraging and scaling our impact over time. Training: CGRS-California provides in-person trainings and workshops, as well as frequent webinars, tailored to the needs of particular audiences in California on a variety of topics. These range from an introduction to asylum law to more advanced issues, for example, specific to representing child asylum applicants and women fleeing domestic violence. Even attorneys who do not practice asylum law seek out our trainings on representing survivors of trauma, secondary trauma, and self-care because the themes transcend multiple areas of the law.
  2. $399,774 spent. Litigation:We undertake strategic litigation on behalf of refugees and other immigrants in California before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)including the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appealsthe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and other federal Courts of Appeals. We become involved in influential cases as counsel or co-counsel, as amicus curiae, and as expert consultants to the attorneys and advocacy organizations in such cases. Our goal is to advance the law to provide maximum protection for individuals fleeing persecution in line with the United States international obligations and ensure that the due process rights of refugees and other immigrants are upheld.
  3. $227,403 spent. Policy and Advocacy:Immigration and refugee law is made at the federal level, but it directly affects refugees and immigrants residing in California. CGRS-California analyzes immigration policy through research and tracking of cases, and educates the California legal, immigrant, and refugee communities about legislation and other policy proposals and their implications. The goal of this work is to promote law and public policies and procedures that recognize and advance the rights of asylum seekers and other immigrants seeking status in the United States and that align with international norms.

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 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 June 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 April 2015.

    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.