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Community Spring Inc

EIN 84-3086998 · Gainesville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our mission is to advance economic justice by disrupting the cycle of poverty and mass incarceration.

Income
$497,960
Spending
$833,829
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
11
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$68,500, executive 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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 67% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $395,749 spent. Just Income: We provided $800/month to justice-impacted individuals, resulting in a 31% reduction in recidivism rate and improved financial stability. Our e-learning platform educates the public on reentry challenges and has been played around 15,000 times by users worldwide as well as being adopted into college curriculums across the nation. We conducted a webinar that launched the results of our randomized controlled trial in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania with 150 attendees which resulted in national recognition in Business Insider and other media outlets. We have consulted with over 40 cities and organizations across the nation on designing and implementing a guaranteed income program.
  2. $147,862 spent. Just Community: We conduct storytelling workshops that challenge exclusionary narratives around poverty and incarceration and equip people with tools to use their story to make change. Through these efforts, we have deepened public understanding of the harmful stereotypes faced by people impacted by poverty and incarceration. We host monthly letter writing events where volunteers write letters to individuals currently incarcerated at our county jail. Additionally, we launched a meditation group specifically for justice-impacted individuals to have a place to heal and reflect. Our organization became certified by court services, to offer community service. People with court mandated community service can volunteer at Community Spring to do activities that are enriching like storytelling, letter writing and meditation rather than activities that are extractive.
  3. $145,083 spent. Just Power: Through eight-month paid fellowships, we empower directly impacted individuals to lead systems change. Our advocacy helped Gainesville become Floridas first city to adopt a fair chance hiring ordinance, expanding employment opportunities for 40,000 individuals with criminal records. We eliminated 15 local jail and court fees and saved families $2.5 million through free jail phone calls. We successfully advocated for public funding for reentry services and several of our fellowship alumni became the founding board of our local reentry hub, Released Reentry.

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 March 2020.

    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.

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.