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Center for Church Innovation

EIN 88-0792543 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STRENGTHENING CHURCHES AND LEADERS FOR THE SPIRITUAL WORK OF INNOVATION.

Income
$533,695
Spending
$630,862
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$266,980, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    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 August 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. $491,944 spent. WE WORKED WITH 25 ESTABLISHED CONGREGATIONS AND 9 NEW CONGREGATIONS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED THE CREATION OF EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, ONLINE AND IN-PERSON TRAINING SESSIONS, AND MILESTONE CELEBRATION EVENTS. WE OFFERED TRAINING TO ENABLE CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS. WE HOSTED A LARGE GATHERING TO FACILITATE CONGREGATIONAL LEADERS LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER, AND MONTHLY GATHERINGS TO SUPPORT CLERGY TO LEAD THROUGH AN ADAPTIVE PROCESS OF CHANGE. WE MET FREQUENTLY WITH CONGREGATIONAL LAY-LEADERS TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY ENGAGED IN ACTION REFLECTION EXPERIMENTS TESTING NEW IDEAS FOR MINISTRY. WE HOSTED A GATHERING FOR LEADERS OF NEW EMERGING CHURCHES AND MET MONTHLY WITH THEM ONLINE TO SUPPORT THEIR LEADERSHIP. (CONTINUES BELOW)
  2. THE ENTIRE PROCESS WAS OFFERED IN SUPPORT OF AN ONGOING COLLECTIVE DISCERNMENT AMONG THE CONGREGATIONS AS THEY SOUGHT TO INNOVATE THEIR CAPACITY TO LEARN, ADAPT AND THRIVE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 February 2023.

    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.