Ventures
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Creating compassionate and equitable local economies that contribute to the well-being of our communities.Ventures partners with rural, working-class families in Californias Central Coast to ensure a shared and equitable economic future for all.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 64%
- Employees
- 27
- Highest pay
- $171,459, executive dir.
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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $2.0 million spent. Financial Capability (Familias con Ms) - provides financial capability education to rural, working-class families on all aspects of money-understanding it, managing it, and saving it. This includes a six-month financial stability program to help working-class families build community, self-determination, and financial wellbeing.
- $1.4 million spent. Asset Building - Ensures families and youth can build wealth. This includes: - Semilitas is a community partnership that creates communities of belonging from birth, by investing in Santa Cruz County kids child development, post-secondary educational aspirations, and families financial capability by creating an automatic college savings account for all Santa Cruz County newborns. - Futuro - is a worker-owned cooperative business structure and network that provides income and wealth building for working-class families.
- $34,431 spent. Advocacy - To advocate for system-level interventions that, in part, enable the establishment of community-owned structures, which ensure community members hold decision-making power over policies and programs.
- $14,943 spent. Emergency Relief & Safety Net Services - As a trusted intermediary during times of crisis, Ventures provides relief to community members in need who are not comfortable working with institutions or who are left out of our safety net.
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 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 December 2024.
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 July 1990.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Abax Ventures Inc (Washington, DC), EIN 93-2770934. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.