Fair Housing Advocates of Northern California
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We provide fair housing, pre-purchase, and mortgage foreclosure prevention services in Marin, Sonoma, and Solano counties, with advisory training in other counties. Our services to tenants and homeowners are available at no charge in English and Spanish.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 17.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 49%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $143,258, executive director
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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
7 of 7Has a 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 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 (1)
- $1.4 million spent. Fair Housing Counseling, Investigation, and Education: Screen and counsel clients on issues of housing discrimination and refer people to appropriate resources; Investigate claims of discrimination and assist clients with filing administrative complaints or lawsuits; Educate housing providers on fair housing laws and appropriate housing practices; Offer fair housing information and education to the larger community; Conduct systemic fair housing investigations and where appropriate, file administrative complaints or lawsuits. Fair housing foreclosure prevention and pre-purchase counseling and education: Screen and counsel clients related to foreclosure prevention and refer people to appropriate resources; assist homeowners with available options (loan modifications, short sales, forbearance, refinance, foreclosure, etc.); provide seminars on foreclosure prevention, fair lending, and financial management. Conduct pre-purchase education classes, including certification for first-time homebuyers, and counsel pre-purchase clients. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH): Conduct affirmatively furthering fair housing activities, including providing education to the community, service organizations, and jurisdictions offering community development block grant funds to community groups, as well as speaking to city and county councils on housing policy and how best to promote greater integration and advance housing opportunity for people protected by fair housing law.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1986.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.