Long Beach Forward Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE A HEALTHY LONG BEACH WITH LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BY BUILDING COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE, LEADERSHIP, AND POWER.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $71,629, executive director
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 75% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 112% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
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
7 of 7Has a 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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)
- $451,115 spent. BEST START CENTRAL LONG BEACH: BEST START CENTRAL LONG BEACH IS A NETWORK THAT BRINGS PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND POLICYMAKERS TOGETHER TO CHANGE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE NETWORK FOCUSES ON IMPROVING CHILDCARE ACCESS, HOUSING AND ECONOMIC SECURITY, HEALTHY PARENTING, AND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION.
- $166,911 spent. THE SOCIAL HOUSING FOR LONG BEACH PROJECT AIMS TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF QUALITY, PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO IMPROVE HOUSING STABILITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING AMONG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE PROJECT WAS FUNDED BY ALL CHILDREN THRIVE AND THE FIRST 5 EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVOCACY COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES FLEXIBLE FUND. OVER THE FIRST YEAR, THE PROJECT HAS FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND GATHERING THE RESEARCH AND DATA NEEDED TO BUILD A CASE FOR SOCIAL HOUSING PRODUCTION.
- $64,445 spent. THE BEST START COMMUNITY PROJECTS ARE COMMUNITY-LED PROJECTS THAT ARE DESIGNED BY AND CARRIED OUT BY MEMBERS OF THE BEST START CENTRAL LONG BEACH NETWORK THROUGH PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING AND THE BEST START CENTRAL LONG BEACH LEADERSHIP TEAM. ALL THE PROJECTS ADVANCE ONE OF FOUR GOALS IN THE COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY CHANGE AGENDA THROUGH POLICY AND SYSTEMS CHANGE. PROJECTS INCLUDED THE LEADERS FOR CHANGE LEARNING ACADEMY FOR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC SECURITY, THE CHILDCARE LICENSING INCUBATOR PROJECT FOR AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE CHILDCARE, AND THE HOME VISITATION COLLABORATIVE FOR STRENGTHENING PARENTING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.