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Institute for Local Government

EIN 94-1537757 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ILG) IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING AND EDUCATING PUBLIC SERVANTS BY DELIVERING REAL-WORLD EXPERTISE THAT HELPS THEM NAVIGATE COMPLEX ISSUES, INCREASES THEIR CAPACITY AND BUILDS TRUST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. TOGETHER, WE WORK WITH LOCAL AGENCY STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION OF GOOD GOVERNMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. OUR WORK IS GUIDED BY OUR CORE VALUES OF COLLABORATION, SERVICE, COMMITMENT, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND TRUST.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
0
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$255,238, 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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $783,616 spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CIVICS EDUCATION: ILG'S WORKFORCE AND CIVICS EDUCATION PILLAR DEMYSTIFIES WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS, WHY IT MATTERS, AND HOW TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE OR LEAD IN CITIES, COUNTIES, AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS. ILG ALSO ASSISTS AGENCIES WITH FILLING THE WORKFORCE PIPELINE WITH DIVERSE AND QUALIFIED APPLICANTS BY SUPPORTING AGENCY'S WORKFORCE AND CIVIC EDUCATION GOALS THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SERVICES. ILG IS A PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYER OUTREACH PARTNER FOR REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS AND IS BUILDING AN ONLINE RESOURCE HUB THAT INCLUDES A SUITE OF WORKFORCE RELATED MATERIALS AND RESOURCES FOR LOCAL AGENCIES. ILG ALSO OFFERS IN-PERSON TRAININGS AND PROJECT SUPPORT ON WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION OUTREACH, PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND NEXT GENERATION OUTREACH. WHEN POSSIBLE, ILG WILL EDUCATE STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE PURPOSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW PEOPLE OF ALL AGES CAN PICTURE THEMSELVES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
  2. $237,021 spent. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: INCLUSIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS A CORNERSTONE OF ILG'S WORK AND EXPERTISE. ILG USES A TAILORED, RESPONSIVE, AND CUSTOMIZED APPROACH TO HELP CITIES, COUNTIES, AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS PLAN, EXECUTE, AND EVALUATE AUTHENTIC PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. ILG HELPS LOCAL AGENCIES ENGAGE WITH DIVERSE, UNDER-REPRESENTED, OR DISENGAGED POPULATIONS, WHILE ALSO HELPING REACH OUT TO AND PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO INFORM, DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENT, CUSTOMIZED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES THAT TACKLE A WIDE RANGE OF PRESSING LOCAL ISSUES. THIS IMPORTANT WORK HELPS BUILD THE CAPACITY OF CALIFORNIA LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADVANCE EQUITY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH PEER LEARNING AND COLLABORATION, TRAINING, COACHING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FACILITATION. ILG'S PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, CUSTOMIZED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TRAININGS, STRATEGIC PLANNING AND CONSULTATION, MEETING AND COMMITTEE FACILITATION AND CONVENINGS AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
  3. $208,238 spent. SUSTAINABILITY: ILG'S SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PILLAR PROVIDES CAPACITY BUILDING SERVICES, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP CITIES, COUNTIES, AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS MAKE MORE INFORMED POLICIES, PLANS, AND DECISIONS AROUND CLIMATE PLANNING, LAND USE, HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ENGAGEMENT THAT RESULTS IN MORE EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. ILG'S FLAGSHIP BEACON PROGRAM PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SHARE PRACTICES THAT CREATE HEALTHIER, MORE EFFICIENT, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. ILG ALSO PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO ASSIST LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR JOURNEY, INCLUDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AWARD RECOGNITION, PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING, AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AS WELL AS CLIMATE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
  4. $41,217 spent. LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE: ILG'S LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE PILLAR HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS BUILD A FOUNDATION OF TRUST, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIVENESS, AND TRANSPARENCY. THIS IMPORTANT WORK INCREASES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN THE LOCAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS BY HELPING LOCAL OFFICIALS UNDERSTAND PUBLIC SERVICE ETHICS PRINCIPLES AND LAWS, AS WELL AS THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO HELP PROMOTE EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE. ILG HELPS DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT ALLOW CIVIL SERVANTS TO OPERATE WITH CIVILITY AND DECORUM AND INCREASE PUBLIC TRUST. ILG PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS, FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS AND WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM: EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE; CIVILITY AND BRIDGING DIVIDES; EFFECTIVE COUNCILS AND BOARDS; PERSONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL ETHICS (AB 1234); ANTI-HARASSMENT TRAINING (AB 1661); GOOD GOVERNANCE; ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS VS STAFF.

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 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 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 1962.

    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.