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Black Students of California United

EIN 81-5459940 · Fresno, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 50% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE CALIFORNIAS AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH WITH THE TOOLS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCES TO PREPARE THEM TO BECOME FULLY ENGAGED PARTICIPANTS IN THE STATES CIVIC AND ECONOMIC LIFE

Income
$849,651
Spending
$653,950
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
5

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $325,124 spent. 1. LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE HOSTED ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS, THIS 3-DAY EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER AN AVERAGE OF 240 300 STUDENTS AND THEIR ADVISORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE FOR CROSS-LEARNING AND NETWORKING AND TO ELECT YOUTH SENATORS TO REPRESENT THEM AND PLAN FOR BSCUS ANNUAL DAY OF ACTIVISM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE CONFERENCE FEATURES KNOWLEDGE BUILDING WORKSHOPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR ARTISTIC SKILLS AND TALENTS, SOCIALIZE AND HAVE FUN. STUDENT LEADERS ARE EXPOSED TO A COLLEGE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT AND NEW COMMUNITIES THAT MANY HAVE NEVER VISITED. 2. BLACK MINDS MATTER (BMM) BSCU SPONSORS TWO PROJECT-BASED LEARNING COMPETITIONS EACH ACADEMIC YEAR FOR BSU CLUB MEMBERS. THE COMPETITIONS ACTIVATE AND MOBILIZE THEM TO EXPLORE STUDENT-IDENTIFIED ISSUES ON THEIR CAMPUSES SUCH AS LOW BLACK GRADUATION RATES, VAPING, AND ANTI-BLACK RACISM AND, WITH GUIDANCE FROM THEIR CLUB ADVISORS AND BSCU-ALLIED SCHOLARS AND ACTIVISTS, DEVELOP FEASIBLE ACTION PLANS TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES. BMM LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND CONVENINGS PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES IN PRODUCTIVE WAYS, AND TRANSLATE THEIR EFFORTS INTO REAL WORLD SOLUTIONS THAT RESULTS IN MORE WELCOMING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS AND OTHER POSITIVE OUTCOMES. THESE PROJECTS HELP STUDENTS LEARN TO CONDUCT SURVEYS AND OTHER RESEARCH STRATEGIES, LEAD MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE, DEVELOP AND MAKE INFORMATIVE PRESENTATIONS, AND COORDINATE AND MANAGE TEAMS. 3. EDUCATION SUMMIT & SELMA BRIDGE CROSSING JUBILEE BSCU SENATORS AND CHAPERONES TRAVELED TO SELMA, ALABAMA FOR AN HISTORICAL EVENT. STUDENTS MET WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, VISITED SCHOOLS AND WALLACE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN SELMA WHERE THEY MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE. THEY LEARNED ABOUT VOTER SUPPRESSION, THE INCARCERATION, AND THE CRIMINALIZATION OF BLACK FEMALES. THE LAST DAY THEY WALKED ACROSS THE EDMUND PETTIS BRIDGE AND WEN TO THE LEGACY MUSEUM

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 May 2018.

    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.