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Center for Engaged Scholarship

EIN 85-2361734 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE USE OUR SKILLS AS RESEARCHERS AND TEACHERS TO GENERATE NEW IDEAS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE.

Income
$419,240
Spending
$622,312
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
2
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$79,000, executive di

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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
  1. $477,700 spent. OUR CENTER IS PART OF A MOVEMENT TO FOCUS SCHOLARS ON RESEARCH THAT ADDRESSES CLIMATE CHANGE, RACIAL AND GENDER JUSTICE, POVERTY, AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION. WE FOLLOW A BOTTOM-UP STRATEGY BY SUPPORTING SCHOLARS WHOSE DISSERTATIONS ARE MODELS OF ENGAGED RESEARCH. OUR FELLOWS COLLABORATE WITH ACTIVISTS, THINK TANKS, AND LEGISLATORS TO SHAPE PUBLIC POLICY. CES SEEKS TO BUILD A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF ENGAGED SCHOLARS WHO WORK WITH SOCIAL MOVEMENTS TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY. ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP ADVANCES VALUES, SUCH AS GREATER EQUALITY WITHIN AND ACROSS NATIONS, MORE EFFECTIVE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE, AND MORE ENLIGHTENED ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES.
  2. $62,440 spent. IT IS A MYTH THAT GOOD SCHOLARSHIP MUST BE VALUE FREE. WE HAVE MANY POWERFUL EXAMPLES OF RESEARCHERS WHO ARE POLITICALLY ENGAGED AND THAT ARE ABLE TO MEET THE HIGHEST SCHOLARLY STANDARDS. WE SEEK TO ENCOURAGE THIS KIND OF HIGH-QUALITY, POLITICALLY-ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP BY CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS.

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 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 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 October 2021.

    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.