Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Rainbow builds community and promotes well-being among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex (LGBTQI+) persons and our allies though social opportunities, health & wellness services, and awareness programs. Rainbow envisions a society that embraces acceptance, safety and equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. As Rainbow transcends its vision from inclusive to expansive, we will be able to more effectively represent by centering and reaching a wider scope of People of Color, intersectional, and marginalized LGBTQI+ identities. We understand that inclusion, which in meaning and implementation, holds and maintains a power differential, whether or not intentionally set.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 83%
- Employees
- 18
- Highest pay
- $72,053, secretary
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (10)
- $1.0 million spent. Since 1995, Rainbow Community Center has offered support and social opportunities to the LGBTQI+ community and its allies. Rainbow offers a broad spectrum of programsthere is a youth program, a senior program, health and wellness services, and support and social groups. Rainbow also provides training and outreach to the larger community to increase awareness and understanding of the LGBTQI+ community. Rainbow is a safe space for people to truly be themselves and to thrive.Previous to moving most of our services and programming virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on any given day, Rainbow was providing in person counseling services on- and offsite at schools, running a busy youth program, offering senior services including a luncheon, providing health and wellness services, facilitating various support groups, leading social activities, conducting HIV testing, facilitating equity training, running a fully stocked food pantry, and offering services to some of our communitys most vulnerable populations. Since March 2020, Rainbow has pivoted to continue to offer all these services meaningfully and intentionally while devising new and adjusted offerings virtually, and some services safely distanced in person, to reach our community where they are at and what they may be managing in this exceptional time.
- Youth Programs Fostering a positive self-identity for all LGBTQI+ youth and young adults ages 11-25, Rainbow offers structured programs, youth mentoring, social activities, and virtual drop-in youth spaces. Our youth programs help address internalized homophobia, promote resilience, and help youth decide when and how to more safely and bravely disclose their gender identities and sexual orientation. Our youth program has proudly offered a variety of activities, including game nights, movie nights, hot topics discussions, quarterly youth dances, field trips, and more. Additionally, Rainbow continues to provide a support group for parents/guardians of Transgender/Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) children ages 11 and younger, while the TGNC children participate in a concurrent activity-based social group, all virtually.
- Senior Services Rainbows senior program provides a safe space for LGBTQI+ seniors to gather, socialize, and create a supportive community. LGBTQI+ seniors are more likely than their straight peers to be isolated, so we aim to increase support, help address internalized homophobia and shame, and ensure seniors have access to a supportive network of peers. Activities include senior lunches, social groups, youth/senior events, and social outings.
- Social and Support Groups Our social and support groups aim to increase a sense of community amongst the LGBTQI+ population and decrease isolation. Our social and support groups include both professionally facilitated and peer-led support groups, recovery groups, and social and activity groups for people with various identities. We host movie nights, game nights, summer picnics, theater outings, and more.
- Health and Wellness Services Our health and wellness services support the creation of a healthy, flourishing, and vibrant LGBTQI+ community in Contra Costa County. Services include Rapid Testing HIV clinics, safer sex information and supplies, and domestic violence information and support services.
- Kind Hearts Food Pantry has transitioned to our Supply Train Program The Supply Train Program continues to provide essential services to people living with HIV/AIDS and to LGBTQI+ people over the age of 55. Our weekly Supply Train staff and community volunteers deliver food boxes to the homes of people living with HIV/AIDS and qualifying seniors, and weekly we conduct extensive check in calls with all our seniors, especially those who are sick and cannot leave their homes before sheltering in place. Rainbow is a distribution site for the Senior Food Program, Gleanings Program through the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Additionally, our community members work with registered dietitians that prescribe nutritional supplements to our HIV positive clients that are enrolled in the Extra Helpings Program. This program was eliminated in August 2023 due to funding.
- Community Mental Health Services Rainbows mental health counseling program aims to increase the resiliency of our community, help stabilize high-risk people with acute mental illness, and help our community thrive. Rainbow provides culturally competent virtual services, such as Individual Therapy, Partners Counseling, and Family Counseling. We also offer coaching sessions for Mental Health professionals on how to work with LGBTQI+ folx.
- Houseless Transitional Youth Program (HTYP) This program benefits LGBTQI+ youth and young adults from age 12 to 24 who are experiencing houselessness, have been victims of violence, and are in crisis. Client services offered through HTYP are as follows: temporary housing, by providing youth 18 and up with hotel vouchers,furniture,transportation, relocation funds, food,employment, clothing,medication and lock/ window safety. Offers emergency housing to youth that are homeless, at imminent risk of houselessness, and supports their efforts to locate affordable and sustainable housing, and supportive housing. The program supports the whole person by also providing clinical services, (therapy) youth groups continumn of services by following up with youth after they have achieved permanent housing. A HTYP community member shared, If it wasnt for getting in touch with Rainbow I would have killed myself, to be honest. I wouldnt be alive today. Im truly grateful to them for my lifeto be able to speak, to eat, to have a job, to give back to the community that I love and that Im so passionate about.Thats how Rainbow has changed my life: Im still living. Marie, age 24
- HIV Prevention ProgramThis program consists of various types of outreach that include social media promotion, HIV+ support groups, social groups and special events that have a focus on male identified people of color and Spanish speaking communities in Contra Costa County.
- Training, Professional Development & CurriculumWe envision a world where LGBTQI+ peoples dignity is honored and respected in every part of the public and private spheres in which they contribute to society and encounter others. Rainbow facilitates responsive, interactive, hands on, minds on, hearts on learning experiences for all of our participants to grow in their understanding and practices. Additionally, we are developing new LGBTQI+ affirming and expansive curriculum sets for purchase. We offer ongoing professional development groups, workshops, panels, and speakers for companies, organizations, schools, groups and individuals. All revenue from training, professional development groups, and curriculum goes towards supporting Rainbow's programs and services in the community.
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 August 1996.
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.