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Saje

EIN 93-1226092 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SAJE BUILDS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND POWER FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
49
Volunteers
43
Highest pay
$125,651, executive director

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: 68 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (4)
  1. $1.3 million spent. TENANT RIGHTS: TENANT PROTECTIONS AND ANTI-EVICTION: OUR STAY HOUSED LA TEAM REACHED 18,524 TENANTS WITH INFORMATION ON THEIR RIGHTS, AND HELPED 7,282 NAVIGATE EVICTIONS, PROTECTING LOW-INCOME TENANTS FROM ILLEGAL RENT HIKES, HARASSMENT, AND EVICTIONS. SAJE EDUCATED TENANTS ON POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, AND EDUCATED COUNTY OFFICIALS ON RENTER ISSUES. LA COUNTY WENT ON TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO GUARANTEE FULL-SCOPE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR RENTERS FACING EVICTION IN UNINCORPORATED L.A. COUNTY. AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE KEEP LA HOUSED COALITION, WE EDUCATED CITY OFFICIALS AND STAFF ON EFFECTIVE WAYS TO STRENGTHEN L.A.'S TENANT ANTI HARASSMENT ORDINANCE, WHICH PROHIBITS LANDLORDS FROM HARASSING TENANTS BY REMOVING SERVICES, WITHHOLDING REPAIRS, OR REFUSING TO ACCEPT RENT.
  2. $1.1 million spent. EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT: LAND USE AND LA HOUSING MOVEMENT LAB: OUR LAND USE TEAM WORKED WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO INCLUDE IMPORTANT EQUITY-PROMOTING MEASURES INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING STREAMLINING REGULATIONS, AND WITH COALITION PARTNERS TO SUPPORT EQUITY MEASURES IN THE NEW CITY-WIDE HOUSING INCENTIVE PROGRAM. STAFF ALSO SUPPORTED TENANTS IN CORPORATE-OWNED HOUSING FIGHT FOR IMPROVED HABITABILITY, AND WORKED WITH PARTNER PARA LOS NINOS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN HUNDREDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS ON HOUSING AND ADVOCACY.
  3. $919,914 spent. BUILDING EQUITY AND TRANSIT: THROUGH OUR WORK WITH LA'S REAP PROGRAM, WE REACHED OVER 700 TENANTS STRUGGLING WITH HABITABILITY ISSUES. SAJE MEMBER INPUT HELPED DESIGN AND LAUNCH THE RENTAL HOUSING HABITABILITY PROGRAM, A STRONGER CODE ENFORCEMENT PLAN FOR UNINCORPORATED L.A. COUNTY. OUR CLIMATE TEAM REACHED THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONSERVE WATER AND POWER, AND SUPPORTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS THEY ADVOCATED FOR EQUITABLE CLIMATE MITIGATION.
  4. $38,206 spent. SAJE ENGAGES IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EFFORTS ON VARIETY OF TOPICS.

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 November 6, 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 February 1997.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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