Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY AND A VOICE FOR LOW INCOME AND HOMELESS PEOPLE WHILE TAKING ACTION FOR ECONOMIC SOCIAL & RACIAL JUSTICE. REAL CHANGE HAS SEVERAL PROGRAM AREAS: THE PUBLICATION OF A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER A LOW-BARRIER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FOR OUR VENDORS WHO SELL THE PAPER AND ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT BENEFIT HOMELESS AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 107
- Highest pay
- $65,536, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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)
- $427,042 spent. EDITORIAL: REAL CHANGE PUBLISHES AN AWARD-WINNING INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER WITH A PAID CIRCULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 241,000 PAPERS ANNUALLY. ON AVERAGE THE NEWSPAPER IS PRODUCED BY FOUR JOURNALISTS AND FIFTEEN VOLUNTEERS. THE PAPER IS INFORMED BY THE ADVICE OF HOMELESS AND FORMERLY HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO REVIEW THE PAPERS CONTENT.
- $347,145 spent. VENDOR SERVICES: WE RUN A COMPREHENSIVE VENDOR SERVICES PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A LOW BARRIER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY TO HOMELESS AND LOW INCOME POEPLE EVERY YEAR. OUR VENDORS BUY PAPERS FROM REAL CHANGE FOR $0.60 EACH AND SELL THEM ON THE STREET FOR $2.00. IN 2024-2025 VENDORS SOLD OVER 270,000 PAPERS COLLECTIVELY EARNING OVER $540,000. REAL CHANGE PROVIDES A LOW THRESHOLD SELF-EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE WHO IN MOST CASES WOULD FACE SERIOUS CHALLENGES FINDING OR MAINTAINING REGULAR EMPLOYMENT.
- $84,685 spent. ADVOCACY & ORGANIZING: REAL CHANGE LEVERAGES THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXIST BETWEEN OUR VENDORS AND READERS TO BUILD A CROSS CLASS MOVEMENT FOR ECONOMIC AND RACIAL JUSTICE. WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCES TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 November 6, 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 March 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 October 1997.
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 November 4, 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.