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California Communications Access Foundation

EIN 61-1411655 · Concord, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CALIFORNIA COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS FOUNDATION (CCAF) IS TO SERVE AS AN EDUCATOR, CONVENER AND RESOURCE THAT WORKS COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ACCESS IN SERVICE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR DISABLED.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
110.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 72%
Employees
105
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$473,137, president ceo

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 110.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 63% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 83% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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 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 (2)
  1. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS FOUNDATION (CCAF) MANAGED AND OPERATED THE DEAF AND DISABLED TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM (DDTP) FOR THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (CPUC). DDTP PROVIDES FREE SPECIALIZED TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT TO ANYONE DEAF OR DISABLED IN CALIFORNIA WHO IS UNABLE TO USE A STANDARD TELEPHONE. CCAF PROVIDED A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES AIMED AT HELPING THESE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING HOME INSTALLATIONS OF EQUIPMENT, SUPPORT FROM SERVICE AND CALL CENTERS, DISTRIBUTION EVENTS, AND THE CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICE. IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, CCAF PROVIDED SUPPORT AND EQUIPMENT TO MORE THAN 730,000 DEAF OR DISABLED CALIFORNIANS BEFORE PHASING OUT ITS CONTRACT WITH THE CPUC TO FOCUS ON ITS PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS.
  2. $3.4 million spent. CALIFORNIA COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS FOUNDATION NOW FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON ABILITY CENTRAL, ITS PHILANTHROPIC WING FOUNDED IN 2010. THE MISSION OF ABILITY CENTRAL IS TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE, CONVENER, AND EDUCATOR WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF, DISABLED, AND NEURODIVERGENT CAN COMMUNICATE AND ACCESS INFORMATION. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, ABILITY CENTRAL HAS GRANTED MORE THAN $14.3M TO 200+ PROJECTS, SERVING MORE THAN 500K PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH PROGRAMS ENCOURAGING CAREER DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND TECH INNOVATION. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, ABILITY CENTRAL AWARDED MORE THAN $800,000 TO 12 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN CALIFORNIA OFFERING A DIVERSE ARRAY OF SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO DISABLED COMMUNITIES. ABILITY CENTRAL ALSO OFFERS SALESFORCE CONSULTING AND ECHNICAL SUPPORT TO OTHER NONPROFITS WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THROUGH ITS PORTAL WEBSITE, ABILITY CENTRAL PROVIDED ONLINE INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND EDUCATION FOR 100K+ PEOPLE WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT DISABILITIES AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS.

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 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 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 October 2002.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: California Community Foundation (Los Angeles, CA), EIN 95-3510055. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.