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Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement

EIN 85-3438473 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CM3 WAS FOUNDED TO HELP YOUTH AND FAMILIES BREAK THE CYCLE AND LONG-TERM IMPACT OF JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT BY SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING CREDIBLE MESSENGER INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION. CM3 BELIEVES THAT CREDIBLE MESSENGERS - INDIGENOUS NATURAL LEADERS WHO SHARE SIMILAR LIFE EXPERIENCES WITH CURRENT JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE - ARE UNIQUELY EQUIPPED AND POSITIONED TO HAVE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON AN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND SYSTEMIC LEVEL. THEREFORE, TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF MASS INCARCERATION AND ADDRESS LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR, CM3 WORKS TO BUILD COMMUNITY CAPACITY BY RECRUITING, TRAINING, CREDENTIALING, AND SUPPORTING CREDIBLE MESSENGERS TO LEAD THE MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE TRANSFORMATION.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
88
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$273,747, 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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 4 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 (1)
  1. $3.5 million spent. MENTORING PROGRAM:CM3 PROVIDES A CREDIBLE MESSENGER MENTORING MODEL, TRAINING CURRICULA, CAPACITY BUILDING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS IN COMMUNITIES SEEKING TO IMPLEMENT AND ADVANCE CREDIBLE MESSENGER WORK. CM3 IS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN THE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI; LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; HOUSTON, TEXAS; JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY; SOUTH CAROLINA; NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA; ORLANDO, FLORIDA; COLUMBUS, OHIO; NEW YORK, NEW YORK; AND, ATLANTA, GEORGIA MARKETS WITH VISIONS OF EXPANDING TO OTHER AREAS OF NEED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

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 January 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.