Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Community Firm

EIN 84-4867019 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMMUNITY FIRM DBA COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEFENSE PROJECT (CEDP) IS A NOT-FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES, PUBLIC BENEFITS, AND POLICY CHANGE. OUR MISSION IS TO KEEP COLORADANS HOUSED.

Income
$102.2 million
Spending
$99.6 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
211
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$232,861, co-founder/co-ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $80.3 million spent. INTEGRATED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSEHOLD STABILITY SERVICES: THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A FUND THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO RENTERS FACING EVICTION OR DISPLACEMENT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, CEDP QUALIFIES RENTERS FACING EVICTION AND DISPLACEMENT FOR BENEFITS, AND IT ISSUES QUICK, ACCURATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CHECKS. ITS EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO MOVE FASTER THAN THE EVICTION TIME LINE, WITH CAPABILITIES TO QUALIFY TENANTS FOR BENEFITS AND ISSUE PAYMENTS IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS WHEN NEEDED TO STABILIZE A HOUSEHOLD. SINCE JULY 2022, CEDP HAS ALSO MANAGED THE STATE OF COLORADO'S EMERGENCY INTAKE SYSTEM FOR RENTERS FACING DISPLACEMENT. THIS INTAKE SYSTEM ANSWERS TENANT CALLS ABOUT THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, FEATURES INTAKE AGENTS AT COURTHOUSES ACROSS THE STATE, AND COORDINATES AMONG SERVICE PROVIDERS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, CEDP MAKES REFERRALS TO ITS OWN EVICTION PREVENTION AND HOMELESSNESS DIVERSION PROGRAMS, AND COORDINATES SERVICE DELIVERY WITH OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE FOR HOUSEHOLD STABILITY SERVICES AND OTHER NEEDED BENEFITS AND SERVICES.
  2. $13.7 million spent. In 2023, we launched a new program to expand the stabilizing services we offer to the community. Housing is a human right, and the loss of a home can lead to cycles of poverty that are exceedingly difficult to recover from. We are able to provide mortgage assistance for clients who are behind on payments based on the individual circumstances of each. Our team of caring navigators and lawyers are passionately committed to keeping our clients in their homes.
  3. $2.9 million spent. LEGAL AID: THROUGH CED LAW, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO RENTERS FACING EVICTION IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. MANAGED SEPARATELY FROM THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSEHOLD STABILITY SERVICES PROGRAM, CED LAW PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO COLORADANS FACING EVICTION OR STRUGGLING WITH CONSUMER AND HOUSING DEBT BURDENS. DEPENDING ON CLIENT NEED, ATTORNEYS PROVIDE ADVICE, LIMITED ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATION, OR FULL-SERVICE LEGAL REPRESENTATION. CED LAW ALSO MANAGES LEGAL AID CLINICS ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND IN COURTHOUSES ACROSS THE STATE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 May 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.