Chattanoogans in Action for Love Equality and Benevolence
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE OF CALEB (CHATTANOOGANS IN ACTION FOR LOVE, EQUALITY, AND BENEVOLENCE) IS TO BRING TOGETHER AN INSTITUTIONAL COALITION OF FAITH-BASED, LABOR, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS GAIN A POWERFUL VOICE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ISSUES IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $836,939
- Spending
- $835,452
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $50,000, executive director
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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 60% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 (3)
- $295,931 spent. HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITY BAIL FUND: THE HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITY BAIL FUND IS A REVOLVING FUND ACCOUNT THAT ALLOWS CALEB TO POST FULL CASH BONDS FOR INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO POST FOR THEMSELVES. CALEB WORKS TO REMIND PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR COMMUNITY CONTACTS ABOUT UPCOMING COURT DATES, AND WHEN CASES ARE RESOLVED THE BAIL AMOUNT IS RETURNED IN FULL TO BE USED FOR THE NEXT INDIVIDUAL. CALEB VOLUNTEERS CONDUCT INTERVIEWS AND RECEIVE COMMUNITY REFERRALS BY PHONE, EMAIL, AND THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. WE ALSO HAVE A REFERRAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
- $42,687 spent. NONPARTISAN VOTER ENGAGEMENT: CALEB'S NONPARTISAN ENGAGEMENT OF MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS AS VOTERS, INCLUDING GET OUT THE VOTE CANVASSING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, VOTER REGISTRATION, AND VOTER EDUCATION.
- $427,699 spent. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TRAININGS, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, & OTHER PROGRAMS: CALEB'S PURPOSE IS TO BUILD STRONG PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH STRONG PUBLIC LEADERS. TRAININGS ARE A KEY PART OF THIS WORK. AS AN AFFILIATE OF THE GAMALIEL NETWORK OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WE COMMIT TO SENDING LEADERS TO GAMALIEL'S 7-DAY NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AS WELL AS REGIONAL ONE-DAY AND THREE-DAY REGIONAL TRAININGS. CALEB HAS ALSO CREATED LOCAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATION GLASS HOUSE COLLECTIVE, WE'VE CREATED A CURRICULUM CALLED "SWAY: A PEOPLE'S GUIDE TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING" THAT PAIRS LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH ARTISTS INTERESTED IN PUBLIC ACTION. THROUGH EIGHT WORKSHOPS AND A COMMUNITY PROJECT, PARTICIPANTS LEARN THE STRATEGIES AND QUALITIES FOR BUILDING A STRONG PUBLIC ORGANIZATION THAT CAN AFFECT CHANGE.
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 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 December 2024.
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 April 2017.
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.