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Passes our checks

Locally Grown

EIN 84-2148701 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY THAT FORGES RELATIONSHIPS, INSPIRES CREATIVITY, AND TEACHES THE TOOLS OF THE FUTURE.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
43
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$95,000, 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (1)
  1. $2.1 million spent. IN 2025 THE ORGANIZATION RAN A PHYSICAL COMMUNITY CENTER OUT OF ITS HQ FACILITY AND OPERATED 5 CORE PROGRAMS: 1) A PROGRAM TO CREATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY PATHWAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES, A TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, A VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM, AND AN ARTS AND CULTURE EVENT SERIES, 2) REMOVED BARRIERS TO WORK FOR 50 INDIVIDUALS, PERFORMED 98 FAMILY STABILIZATION PROJECTS, SERVED 29 PEOPLE IN WORKFORCE COHORTS, AND SUPPORTED 200+ FAMILIES THROUGH FOOD AND PANTRY SERVICES, 3) SERVED 250 YOUTH THROUGH A MIXTURE OF IN-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING, 4) PERFORMED 80+ DE-ESCALATIONS AND MEDIATIONS, RAN 26 FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND SUPPORTED 42 HIGH-RISK PARTICIPANTS, AND 5) CARRIED OUT 12 EVENTS THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 600 PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

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

  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 November 6, 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 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 August 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 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.