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Cardea Health

EIN 87-0906271 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CARDEA HEALTH IS A NONPROFIT HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION FOUNDED TO CONNECT MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS TO THE CLINICAL AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THEY NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH, REMAIN STABLY HOUSED IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND AGE IN PLACE. CARDEA HEALTH'S PROGRAMS FILL A CRITICAL - AND GROWING - GAP IN THE SYSTEM OF CARE.

Income
$13.0 million
Spending
$10.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
116
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$241,938, cao

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 8 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. $9.6 million spent. Medical Respite Care - Medical respite care is acute and post-acute care for people experiencing homelessness who are too ill or frail to recover from an illness or injury on the streets or in a shelter, but who do not require hospital level care. The 34 bed Fairmont Tiny Homes program officially opened in August of 2021, offering a mix of 15 beds reserved for respite care and 19 units for transitional housing, all designated for the unhoused population of mid and unincorporated Alameda County. Since opening, the Organization has provided nursing services and support to over 100 individuals needing to recuperate from everything from minor surgery to malignant cancer. The program accepts referrals from local hospitals and street medicine teams that conduct outreach to the unhoused population. Eddie's Place located in Oakland opened in May 2023 and provides 61 units of medical respite beds. Alameda County Homekey Program - The Alameda County Project Homekey program, located in East Oakland, is a 240 bed Permanent Supportive Housing program for formerly homeless individuals and are home to people who have experienced chronic homelessness and require clinical support to live in Permanent Supportive Housing. The Organization provides enhanced on-site clinical services that allow medically frail individuals to live successfully in a community-based setting through the end of their life, regardless of how their care needs change over time. The Homekey locations are now home to over 60 formerly homeless individuals who would otherwise be at risk of institutionalization due to advanced medical conditions or disability. The Organization is working to expand the program so that no one who is unhoused and severely ill should have to choose between living on the street or living in an institution. Cardea Home Health - The Organization operates a licensed home health agency under a management agreement for the purpose of providing home health services to unsheltered individuals and people coming out of homelessness. Cardea Home Health services are Medicaid and Medicare certified, and include occupation and physical therapy, as well as nursing services. The Organization strives to provide services that homeless individuals are often excluded from because they are unhoused. Lake Merritt Lodge - The Organization provides nursing support and personal care services at Lake Merritt Lodge, an emergency shelter operated by the City of Oakland and Housing Consortium of the East Bay ("HCEB"). Services are focused on supporting and strengthening resident relationships with primary and specialty care services offered by community clinics and prepare residents to manage their medical needs independently upon the transition to permanent housing.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 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 7, 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.