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Compassion Institute

EIN 81-5048309 · Half Moon Bay, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEADING PROVIDER OF COMPASSION TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONS SERVING THE PUBLIC UNDER CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES (EX. HEALTH CARE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS, EDUCATORS, SOCIAL SERVICES). LEVERAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND EXTENSIVE FACULTY RESOURCES FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WHERE THE COURSE WAS DEVELOPED IN 2009, COMPASSION INSTITUTE'S GLOBAL NETWORK OF COMPASSION EDUCATORS IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN COMMUNITIES CHALLENGED BY STRESS, CONFLICT, AND/OR VIOLENCE.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 51%
Employees
8
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$182,499, 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 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 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. $479,454 spent. HEALTH PROGRAM - COMPASSION-BASED PROFESSIONAL, LEADERSHIP, AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR. THESE OFFERINGS EQUIP HEALTH SECTOR PROFESSIONALS WITH THE TOOLS AND SKILLS OF SELF AND COLLECTIVE CARE. WE COLLABORATE WITH LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO CO-CREATE COMPASSIONATE CULTURES ALIGNED WITH THE VALUES AND MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION.
  2. $350,452 spent. LAW ENFORCEMENT & PUBLIC SAFETY (COURAGEOUS HEART) - "COURAGEOUS HEART: THE HUMAN BEHIND THE BADGE" TRAINING IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY BY COMPASSION INSTITUTE FOR, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE RESILIENCE, COMPASSION AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLICSAFETY PERSONNEL.
  3. $301,647 spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS - COMPASSION TRAINING PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR PERSONAL AND SOCIETAL WELL-BEING DELIVERED TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE. OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IS COMPASSION CULTIVATION TRAINING (CCT), AN 8-WEEK PROGRAM DEVELOPED WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN MIND, DRAWING ON INSIGHTS AND TECHNIQUES FROM PSYCHOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE, AND CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE. WE TEACH CCT, CCT DERIVATIVES AND CERTIFY TEACHERS TO TEACH CCT GLOBALLY.

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 October 13, 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 August 2017.

    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 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.