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Passes our checks

Mass Liberation

EIN 84-1962574 · Torrance, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HARNESSING THE POWER OF LIVED EXPERIENCE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, WE GIVE CITIZENS RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION THE MEANS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DETERMINISM, TO LIVE WITH JOY, AND LEAD THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING A GREAT HOUSING ENVIRONMENT, PROVIDING TRAINING IN TECHNOLOGY AND EMPLOYMENT, AND LINKING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BEST RESOURCES IN LA COUNTY TO BUILD THE LIVES THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TO BUILD.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 41%
Employees
25
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$129,770, treasurer, ceo

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. HOUSING- MASS LIBERATION PROVIDES BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE HOUSING TO INVIDUALS WHO SERVED LONG TERMS OF INCARCERATION.
  2. $708,529 spent. CITIZEN COACHING- MASS LIBERATION STAFF PROVIDES SUPPORT AND CARE TO RETURNING CITIZENS FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE. CITIZEN COACHES MENTOR THROUGH OBTAINING DOCUMENTS, FINDING EMPLOYMENT, TRANSITIONING TO PERMANENT HOUSING SITUATIONS, AND BUILDING LASTING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.
  3. $541,685 spent. REENTRY COURSES- CLASSES COVERING TOPICS IN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, PHYSICAL WELLNESS, THINKING, FINANCES, TECHNOLOGY, AND EMPLOYMENT. IN CLASSROOM INTERACTION IS SUPPLEMENTED WITH AN ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM WITH 60 VIDEOS COVERING A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF TOPICS THAT RETURNING CITIZENS WILL NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION BACK TO SOCIETY AFTER INCARCERATION. MASS LIBERATION ALSO PROVIDES REENTRY INSTRUCTION VIA CORRESPONDENCE TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 November 2019.

    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.

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