Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Civic Works Inc

EIN 52-1925614 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STRENGTHENING BALTIMORE'S COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

Income
$17.7 million
Spending
$17.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
347
Volunteers
486
Highest pay
$239,009, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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 September 30, 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 (5)
  1. $6.8 million spent. CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE CAREERS - CIVIC WORKS TEACHES JOB SKILLS FOR SUSTAINABLE CAREERS, PROVIDES ON-THE-JOB TRAINING BY INSTALLING SOLAR ON LOW INCOME HOMES AND PROVIDES JOB PLACEMENT UPON COMPLETION, TRAINING IN SOLAR, ROOFING, AND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
  2. $3.4 million spent. ELDER SERVICES - CIVIC WORKS PROVIDES THE FACILITATION OF AGING-IN-PLACE THROUGH FALL PREVENTION, CASE MANAGEMENT AND CONNECTION TO SERVICES.
  3. $3.1 million spent. CLEAN CORPS IS A MULTI-AGENCY INITIATIVE, LED BY THE BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND OPERATED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH BALTIMORE-BASED NONPROFITS: CIVIC WORKS AND BON SECOURS COMMUNITY WORKS. FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARPA), CLEAN CORPS WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS IN 42 UNDERINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS TO TACKLE ISSUES OF ILLEGAL DUMPING, LITTER, OVERGROWN GRASS AND WEEDS ACROSS THE CITY. OUR CLEAN CORPS PROGRAM PROVIDES JOBS TOUNDER AND UNEMPLOYED RESIDENTS TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN COMMUNITY-SELECTED VACANT LOTS, ALLEYS, SIDEWALKS, TREE PITS, PUBLIC TRASH CANS AND MORE.AS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, CLEAN CORPS ALSO PROVIDES HOLISTIC SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEES TO STABILIZE THEIR LIVES AND FACILITATE THE STEPS NEEDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER. WE HELP EMPLOYEES ACCOMPLISH THEIR CAREER GOALS THROUGH PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND COUNSELING, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND EXPUNGEMENT SERVICES, GED PROGRAMS, CERTIFIED-DRIVING LICENSE TRAINING, RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW COACHING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING.
  4. $1.1 million spent. YOUTHBUILD - CIVIC WORKS PROVIDES CONSTRUCTION TRAINING, HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA/GED ASSISTANCE, AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR BALTIMORE CITY OPPORTUNITY YOUTH.
  5. $1.3 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.