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Golden State Opportunity Foundation

EIN 47-4325738 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOLDEN STATE OPPORTUNITY (GSO) IS A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO ENDING POVERTY BY PROVIDING ALL CALIFORNIANS WITH THE TOOLS TO BUILD FINANCIAL WELL-BEING AND THRIVE. OUR WORK IS ALONG TWO COMPLEMENTARY TRACKS GETTING PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED RIGHT NOW AND BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO CHANGE ATTITUDES TOWARD PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY AND THE POLICIES THAT KEEP THEM THERE. GSO LEADS COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE CAMPAIGNS TO HELP FAMILIES ACCESS TAX CREDITS AND PUBLIC BENEFITS, ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT UPLIFT LOW-INCOME CALIFORNIANS. OUR COMMUNITY OF WORKING FAMILIES IS LEADING THE CHARGE FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT END POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA. GSO WONT STOP PUSHING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE UNTIL EVERYONE CAN EASILY ACCESS THE RESOURCES, THEY NEED TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES WITH FINANCIAL STABILITY.

Income
$8.1 million
Spending
$6.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 60%
Employees
36
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$343,822, president

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 11 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $5.6 million spent. GSO'S INITIAL PROJECT IS A STATEWIDE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN CALLED CALEITC4ME TO ENCOURAGE LOW-INCOME CALIFORNIANS TO CLAIM THE STATE'S EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT. FEDERAL AND STATE-EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS, WHICH INCENTIVIZE AND REWARD WORK, ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMS IN EXISTENCE. DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF THESE PROGRAMS, A LARGE NUMBER OF CALIFORNIANS REMAIN IN POVERTY, MANY UNAWARE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM. PROMOTING GREATER PARTICIPATION IN EXISTING PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGING NEW, INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO FIGHTING CAUSES OF POVERTY WOULD LEAD TO DRASTIC IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR MANY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO GET BY.

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 March 2016.

    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.

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