A Red Circle
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROMOTE HOLISTIC BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ADDRESS RACIAL DISPARITIES THROUGH SYSTEM CHANGE AND COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMMING TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF RACISM ONE PERSON AND CAUSE AT A TIME
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 93%
- Employees
- 25
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $77,600
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 67% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 90% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% 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
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 15 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
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
- $1.1 million spent. Empowering healthy decisions and improving access to healthy food are key to A Red Circles program development. Among other efforts toward those ends, we create community support networks for North County parents through our monthly Parent Cafes, operate two active growing spaces, and offer a subscription program that provides affordable, supplemental food and supplies to North County residents.
- $280,581 spent. Our education work seeks to reduce the high levels of suspension for Black students in North County schools, taking a holistic approach to engage with students, families, and educational institutions.
- $163,493 spent. A Red Circle employs creative placemaking to implement community-led change through the arts. We provide programs such as Chosen Pathways, which show youth a better life path, and Art in the Garden, which brings beauty and wonder into disinvested communities to build resilience.
- $70,682 spent. A Red Circle provides opportunities for young people in North County to gain real-world experience, develop general skills like effective communication and leadership, as well as profession-specific expertise.
- $13,872 spent. A Red Circle is active in civic engagement; we register voters, provide rides to the polls, host civic town halls, and advocate for more equitable education policy.
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 March 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.