Act to Change
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 121 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Act to Change continues to empower students by advocating for systemic change and providing resources to promote healthy communities.
- Income
- $444,158
- Spending
- $691,536
- Spent on programs
- 48%
- Reserves
- 31.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 68%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $110,784, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 56% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1548% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 121 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 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, 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 (3)
- $203,317 spent. Youth Ambassador Program - Act To Changes Youth Ambassadors Program (YAP) engges and empowers Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth by providing them the resources and tools they need to end bullying in their communities through meaningful conversations and faciliated discussions with content experts.
- $126,227 spent. Homeroom - Homeroom is an anti-bullying program designed to cultivate students sense of belonging and raise their voices. Homeroom is anchored in culturally relevant best practices and provides training, resources, and tools for schools to reduce bullying.
- Act To Changes Youth Ambassadors Program (YAP) engages and empowers Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth by providing them the resources and tools they need to end bullying in their communites through meaningful conversations and faciliatated discussions with content experts. Participants who successfully complete the program attend a grduation showcase where they have the opportunity to share their school and community impact projects for belonging and inclusion publicly. The Showcase, held on May 17, 2025, is a feature of the organizations Day Against Bullying and Hate event in May in honor of Vincent Chin, whose murder in a hate crime in 1982 sparked a national uprising. This was an in-person community reception & celebration in New York City, NY to honor our youth changemakers and to bring together community allies and youth leaders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.