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California Walks

EIN 81-0618523 · Lakewood, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Statewide voice for pedestrian safety and healthy, walkable communities for people of all ages and abilities. California Walks partners with state agencies, community-based organizations and residents.

Income
$933,001
Spending
$723,270
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
10
Highest pay
$112,444, executive dir.

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
  1. $494,963 spent. The Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program (CPBSP) is a joint project of California Walks and UC Berkeley's Safe Transportation Research and Education Center (SAFETREC) with funding provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The CPBSP is a three project program that works with residents, schools, agencies, organizations, local officials, and other community partners across the state to understand a community's walking and biking safety concerns and advance their safety goals. We completed 12 workshops and follow-up trainings during the fiscal year across the state. Since 2009, we have worked with over 200 communities and helped communities receive millions in active transportation funds through our workshop outreach, reports, and follow-up technical assistance.
  2. $83,270 spent. The California Endowment: Cal Walks completed two of four policy roundtables and helped to lead a coalition of organizations interested in creating a pedestrian and bicycle safety education policy for schools across the state. Additionally, we began working to build a student leadership group that would serve as local leaders in their communities on pedestrian and bicycle safety issues.
  3. $22,463 spent. Kern Council of Governments Safe Routes 4 Cycling (SR4C) Caltrans funded project ended in January 2025. Cal Walks led administrative management, reporting, and the planning and agenda for stakeholder meetings in 13 communities across the County.
  4. $716 spent. SCAG Go Human: Cal Walks worked with multiple communities across Southern California to implement safe roadway infrastructure demonstration projects using the SCAG Kit of Parts. This included planning, coordination, deployment, surveying, and reporting on for each event as well as assistance with planning for future improvements based on feedback from the demonstrations.

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

  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 June 2026.

    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 February 2006.

    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.