San Quentin Skunk Works
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
San Quentin SkunkWorks unites the ingenuity and leadership of incarcerated people and professionals to transform the criminal justice system from the inside out. The organization develops tests and scales educational rehabilitative and community-based programs that improve outcomes for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people correctional staff and the communities impacted by incarceration. Through collaborative innovation and leadership development the organization works to advance transformative change within Californias penal system and beyond.
- Income
- $125,991
- Spending
- $52,825
- Reserves
- 16.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $4,000, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
- $25,029 spent. Through our Chiaroscuro program we were able to facilitate the painting of three murals inside of San Quentin and one mural in downtown San Francisco that was completed in 2026. In prison environments there is a notable lack of color; we want to rectify this by bringing in artists both local and world-renowned to produce meaningful works alongside incarcerated residents at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Thus far we have worked with Faith XLVII Keya Tama Zeo Zeigler and eL Seed to produce these murals. While we are still collecting data on the impact of these murals on the incarcerated residents we have heard both from correctional staff and incarcerated residents that having places of beauty in such a grim environment has made a positive impact on their emotional wellbeing. Beyond that the incarcerated artists who are able to participate in the painting receive professional experience that will serve them upon release from prison.
- $5,918 spent. Through our Transformative Recreation program organized and ran monthly table-top gaming events alongside a chess club that meets weekly inside of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Our table-top gaming events which we call First Friday events serve roughly 150 incarcerated persons and roughly thirty correctional staff at San Quentin each month. In sum this totaled reaching 800 unique participants from the incarcerated population in the program with the total number of participants being estimated at roughly 900. Additionally this program provides drinks and refreshments for each of its participants such that each person was able to eat a real non-prison-food meal each event. We also brought in nearly 60 outside community members to participate in these events. With regard to the chess club San Quentin SkunkWorks now runs a chess club with volunteer grandmaster level coaching that serves roughly 25 regular attendees. This club has just recently received FIDE recognition and is working towards hosting a tournament between outside chess players and club members.
- While our Leadership Foundry program does not have any expenses yet this program has been able to provide our incarcerated volunteers with meaningful work experience emotional regulation tools and professional connections - all of which will benefit them upon release from prison. This program intends to meet the deficits in professional experience and skills that are prominent in carceral settings. As such 35 participants rotated yearly as a cohort model commit to a year-long curriculum designed to teach leadership skills communication skills conflict resolution and project management skills. This curriculum is taught primarily by outside professionals but also includes trainings and meetings led by participants themselves.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 2025.
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 September 2022.
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 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.