Be Present Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Be Present, Inc. builds sustainable leadership for social change by teaching the Be Present Empowerment Model(R), providing systems support, building a national network of activists and creating collaborative partnerships across sectors by conducting trainings and providing consulting services to non profit orgnizations (NPOs) and individuals.
- Income
- $662,034
- Spending
- $879,144
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 15.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $128,595, co-leader-transformativ
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 147% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $163,592 spent. CONSULTING SERVICES AND COLLABORATIONS - The demand for consulting services continued to grow in 2024. Organizations desiring to be more values-aligned and to implement those values throughout their organizations came to Be Present for support. BPI provided services to the following non-profit organizations (NPOs) in 2024: (A) Wisdom & Money (W&M), a CA NPO committed to transformational work with people of financial wealth and people from the culture of wealth to engage with money as a doorway to spiritual transformation at the personal, communal, and systemic levels. In 2024, BPI and W&M continued discussions regarding W&M's organizational priorities and implementation. A proposal was submitted and approved in May 2025 to support the next phase of its organizational development. Implementation is underway to design and deliver leadership training on September 18-21, 2025, for 10 staff and board members of diverse races, genders and backgrounds. (B) Village Free School (VFS), an independent school serving youth ages 5-18 in Portland, OR utilize self-directed education practices to support kids in becoming autonomous, creative, and thoughtful citizens who can make change and collaborate with others. BPI designed and delivered a training project to support VFS's vision and mission. The project included: (i) Conducting a review of VFS Key Documents; (ii) Conducting 1:1 Conversations with representatives from the VFS ecosystem (staff, council, ombudspersons); and (iii) Delivering a 3-day leadership development training called, "Be Present Empowerment Model: Building Effective Relationships to Lead with Care." The final service is preparation and presentation of a Comprehensive Final Report that includes lessons learned and recommendations for next steps. The VFS Consultancy served 16 people of diverse races, genders and backgrounds. (C) Girl Child and Her Long Walk to Freedom (GCLW), a joint project of the Imago Dei Fund and the Institute for Faith and Gender Empowerment, with a mission to nurture a community of faith-inspired change agents putting "faith to work through love" to liberate the world from the deep roots of patriarchy. In 2023, BPI designed and facilitated Session One in a series of "Contemplative Conversations" for the project's global cohort of 15 people (GCLW Fellowship). In October 2024, conversations continued for BPI to provide members of the GCLW Fellowship Program with Be Present Empowerment Model. A proposal was submitted and approved in February 2025, and implementation is underway. The GCLW Consultancy will serve a 3-person leadership team and a global cohort of 16 people from continents of the world (Asia, Africa, North America, South America and others.)(2) Collaborations: Social change is not accomplished by one organization working alone, but by the collaboration of organizations working together for social good and justice. An essential pillar of BPI is building strong and sustainable alliances. BPI and Wisdom & Money (see Section 4a (1) above) have successfully collaborated on numerous projects for over 20 years. BPI applies these principles of collaboration in developing future partners in the pursuit of social justice.
- $235,986 spent. NATIONAL NETWORK LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - BPI's mission is to build sustainable leadership for social justice. To accomplish this mission, BPI engaged in the following activities that provide people with the skills and insights to become more effective leaders in their families, communities, and other institutions in which they participate: (A) Regional Organizing Core Group (ROCG) Support and Development: BPI supported established ROCGs in NY, GA, CA, and OR to organize in local communities by developing Be Present Support Groups and holding free monthly developer's meetings via Zoom to train people in the BPEM. Approximately 200 people were served during 2024. BPI supported emerging and established ROCGs through telephone and online technical assistance and training on the BPEM. A training was held on September 13-14, 2024, for 17 members of established and emerging ROCGs. (B) Children & Youth Learning & Play Leadership Program (CYLP): The CYLP is a partnership between adults and youth from ages 5 to 18 years old. Approximately 20 youth are members of the Program. They learn leadership skills, receive training in the BPEM, and are skilled trainers and facilitators in the BPEM. They are responsible for developing their own Be Present Support Groups, with the support of their ROCGs. CYLP members are non-voting Youth Advisers on the BPI Board of Directors who are involved in BPI leadership, planning, and program development. In 2024, CYLP met monthly to provide input in Be Present programs and continue their leadership development in the BPEM. Youth trainers provided training in the BPEM and expertise in engaging children, youth, and adults in 2024 programs (described below in section 4c). (C) Black & Female Leadership Team (BFLT): The BFLT is comprised of Black women and girls from established ROCGs in GA and NY. The team meets bi-monthly to plan, design, and facilitate Be Present programs for Black women and girls, including quarterly gatherings and leadership trainings. The team collaborates with the National Network Leadership on all aspects of program implementation. Approximately 10 women are members of the team. (D) Men & Boys Leadership Team (MBLT): The MBLT is comprised of 8 men and boys from established and emerging ROCGs in GA, NY, TX, the San Francisco Bay Area, and OR. The team meets monthly to gain practice in the BPEM, engage in outreach to men and boys to attend Be Present programs, and facilitate annual gatherings. The team collaborates with the National Network Leadership on all aspects of program implementation. (E) National Network Leadership Monthly Meetings: The National Network Leadership is comprised of 20 representatives from each ROCG and the BPI Board of Directors. They convene monthly via Zoom to report on activities in each development area; monitor progress on actualization plans; and share best practices in leadership and fund development.
- $293,080 spent. 4c. EVENTS - In 2024, BPI designed and facilitated events to introduce people to Be Present and the Be Present Empowerment Model : (A) Be Present: Transformative Practices that Foster Justice and Peace was held July 25-28, 2024, in the Bay Area, CA, and facilitated by its Regional Organizing Core Group and BPI staff. The series of events included: (i) Welcome Gathering; (ii) Black & Female: What is the Reality? (R) Gathering and Celebration; (iii) Conversations in Community, in collaboration with Fusion Academy Berkeley; and (iv) Family Day Picnic. Approximately 100 children, youth, and adults from the local BPI network, local schools, and community organizations attended. (B) Black & Female: What is the Reality? Training and Celebration Retreat, facilitated by the BFLT, was held August 22-25, 2024, at Forrest Hills Resort in Dahlonega, GA and was attended by 50 people who identify as a Black woman or Black girl, ages 1 to 75, from all parts of the U.S. (C) National Network Convening and Training was held November 7-9, 2024 in Stone Mountain, GA. Events included a two-day National Network Leadership Planning Session, followed by a training workshop entitled, "Build and Sustain Authentic Relationships Across Race, Gender, Power, and Class." The Convening and Training was led by Be Present staff in partnership with 20 members of diverse genders, races and backgrounds from Regional Organizing Core Groups and partners from GA, NY, CA and OR.
- $8,336 spent. Support services, workshops and training services.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 1992.
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 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.