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Council on American-Islamic Relations California

EIN 77-0411194 · Anaheim, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAIR-CA ENHANCES THE UNDERSTANDING OF ISLAM, PROTECTS CIVIL RIGHTS, PROMOTES JUSTICE AND EMPOWERS AMERICAN MUSLIMS.

Income
$18.9 million
Spending
$17.6 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
150
Volunteers
601
Highest pay
$254,771, board member/ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 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 (3)
  1. $8.9 million spent. CIVIL RIGHTS AND IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTSHANDLED 1,004 CIVIL RIGHTS CASES INCLUDING WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT ABUSES, TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND HATE CRIMES. WHILE FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON AMERICAN MUSLIMS, CAIR-CA HAS ESTABLISHED A REPUTATION AS AN ADVOCATE FOR ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL WHOSE CIVIL RIGHTS ARE IN JEOPARDY AND FOR PARTNERING WITH LOCAL MINORITY AND LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS. WE WORK WITH MANY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND LEGAL SERVICES TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.HANDLED 3,186 IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS CASES INCLUDING ASYLUM, LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENCY, CITIZENSHIP OR REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILIES AS WELL AS VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SERIOUS CRIMES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. CAIR-CA HELPED CLIENTS ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.CAIR-CA SERVED AS FISCAL LEAD OF PASS-THROUGH GRANT REVENUE DIRECTED TOWARDS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORTED THE AFGHANISTAN SUPPLEMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT TO PROVIDE FUNDING ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT IMMIGRATION-RELATED LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHAN NEWCOMERS.
  2. $4.5 million spent. GOVERNMENT AND YOUTHHELD 261 ADVOCACY MEETINGS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY. CAIR-CA DEVELOPED CAMPAIGNS TO MOBILIZE THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, AND FACILITATED AWARENESS AROUND ISSUES RELEVANT TO CAIR-CA'S POLICY AGENDA AND ADVOCACY THROUGH STATE AND LOCAL EFFORTS AND AT OUR 13TH ANNUAL MUSLIM DAY AT THE CAPITOL.CONDUCTED THE 18TH ANNUAL MUSLIM YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, IN WHICH 39 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDED THE STATE CAPITOL IN SACRAMENTO FOR A 4-DAY TRAINING. THE PROGRAM FEATURED WORKSHOPS ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT A MOCK LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THE STATE SENATE.
  3. $1.5 million spent. OUTREACH AND MEDIACONDUCTED 247 EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS AND HELD 926 COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS. CAIR-CA ORGANIZED EDUCATIONAL, SENSITIVITY AND DIVERSITY WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING SEMINARS FOR EMPLOYERS, EDUCATORS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM AND MUSLIMS AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION. CAIR-CA STRIVES TO EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT ISLAM WHILE BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES AND ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS.CONDUCTED 426 MEDIA PARTICIPATIONS WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA TO ENSURE AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF ISLAM AND MUSLIMS IS PRESENTED TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. CAIR-CA MONITORS LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA IN PART, TO CHALLENGE NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES, BUT ALSO TO APPLAUD AND ENCOURAGE POSITIVE REPRESENTATIONS OF ISLAM AND MUSLIMS.CAIR-CA SERVED AS REGIONAL LEAD AND FISCAL CONTRACTOR OF PASS-THROUGH GRANT REVENUE DIRECTED TOWARDS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORTED THE AFGHAN REFUGEE SCHOOL IMPACT AND AFGHAN YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 April 1996.

    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.

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.