Go Austin Vamos Austin
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To reduce the negative impacts of systemic health inequities in three ways: increase access to physical activity and improved nutrition, build community power, and increase neighborhood stability.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $97,421, exec director
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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 (1)
- $1.6 million spent. 1) Increased access to physical activity and healthy eating opportunities - organized to build partnerships that provide healthy programming, connected neighborhood leaders to resources, and organized for a healthier built environment that supports improved nutrition and active lives.2) Built community power - provided training, resources, and support to develop strong community leaders. Engaged them civically to change the programs, policies, and processes that impact their communities' health. Developed new and existing networks of community leaders and groups to address health inequities.3) Improved neighborhood stability - identified specific policies, tools, and programs that can mitigate cost of living and other pressures that worsen displacement. Improvement of parks, trails, greenbelts, and pedestrian infrastructure: safe and activated public and green spaces are critical to community health. GAVA builds leadership among neighborhood leaders and connects them to resources and partnerships to improve their built-in environment. We advocate for equitable infrastructure, programmatic investments, from the public sector while supporting people to identify, initiate, and lead community efforts that increase physical activity and climate resilience in their neighborhoods. These include but are not limited to pedestrian infrastructure and urban canopy improvements, local policy decisions leading to increased accessibility of city facilities like swimming pools, and improvements for natural areas, trails and park lighting. Increased access to healthy and culturally relevant foods through distribution of low-cost, locally sourced produce; development of community-owned food retail options that support culturally relevant food access and nutrition efforts in our neighborhoods of focus. Professional and peer support and resources for early childhood caretakers and educators: GAVA organizes with childcare providers and educators of children aged 0- 5 in preschools, childcare centers, pre-kindergarten classrooms, and home- based childcare in formal and informal settings. We support them to leverage funding and improvements for healthy childcare and educational environments and consistent, culturally relevant care.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 September 2018.
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 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.