Center for Excellence in Nonprofits
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF NONPROFIT LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS BY OFFERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY PROGRAMS, CONSULTATION, TRAINING AND COMMUNITY- BUILDING NETWORKS.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $955,373
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $151,198, 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 18 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 (9)
- $220,420 spent. COHORT: MULTI-MONTH PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SPACES FOR LEARNING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING AMONG NONPROFIT LEADERS, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, AS WELL AS TOOLS TO PROMOTE GROWTH, REPRESENTATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND IDEAL PRINCIPLES. PROGRAMS INCLUDE LEADERS INSTITUTE, BUILDING REPRESENTATIVE BOARDS, BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND BOARD MATCH EVENT.
- $194,517 spent. PAID CONSULTING: COMBINES IDEAL PRINCIPLES WITH LEADING PRACTICES TO OFFER SHORT OR LONG-TERM CONSULTATIONS ON TOPICS.
- $73,633 spent. NONPROFIT WORKSHOPS: INTERACTIVE TRAININGS THAT EXPLORE LEADING PRACTICES IN VARIOUS AREAS OF NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. TOPICS INCLUDE MANAGEMENT, NONPROFIT FINANCIALS, BOARD DEVELOPMENT, AND FUNDRAISING.
- $72,672 spent. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS: A STRATEGY TO PROMOTE AWARENESS FOR CENS MISSION, VALUES, AND PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, MAILINGS, EVENTS, AND OTHER PUBLIC RELATIONS.
- $62,999 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES: LIVE AND VIRTUAL EVENTS FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS NETWORKING.
- $51,577 spent. MULTI-DAY WORKSHOPS: THREE-DAY NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE BOOTCAMP: THIS COURSE PROVIDES LEADERS WITH AN EXPLORATION OF THE NONPROFIT BUSINESS MODEL, DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT SKILLS, AND A ROBUST TOOLKIT OF RESOURCES TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE AND SUCCESSFUL NONPROFIT CAREER.
- $15,291 spent. PARTNER PROGRAMS: COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH CEN AND PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE THE MISSION, IDEAL AND THE IMPACT BETWEEN BOTH ORGANIZATIONS.
- $5,023 spent. PROGRAMS OTHER: CAPACITY-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES DELIVERED THROUGH CENS CHANNELS THAT ARE FUNDED BY EXTERNAL PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS.
- $480 spent. ONE-DAY WORKSHOPS: DEVELOPING A HIGH PERFORMING TEAM.
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 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 October 13, 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 June 2025.
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 1994.
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 October 21, 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.