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Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County

EIN 94-1648949 · Santa Rosa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE A CATALYST OF EQUITABLE TRANSFORMATION, ALIGNING PARTNERS AND RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT VALUES-BASED, DATA-DRIVEN, COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS THAT HELP FAMILIES REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. OUR VISION - WE SEE SONOMA COUNTY TRANSFORMED INTO AN EMPOWERED COMMUNITY OF THRIVING FAMILIES WHERE EVERY CHILD IS RAISED WITH JOY, JUSTICE, AND CONNECTION.

Income
$17.3 million
Spending
$19.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
265
Volunteers
130
Highest pay
$170,097, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 92% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 February 28, 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 (6)
  1. $8.6 million spent. HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD STARTHEAD START/EARLY HEAD START IS A NATIONAL CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS OLD AND THEIR FAMILIES, FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND RESOURCES TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN AREAS SUCH AS SOCIAL, HEALTH, DENTAL, NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. TEN PERCENT OF ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DIAGNOSED DISABILITIES.
  2. $3.4 million spent. HOUSING AND FINANCIAL STABILITY PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE SELFSUFFICIENCY, AS WELL AS HOUSING, FAMILY, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY, THE DEPARTMENT OFFERS EDUCATION ON FINANCIAL CAPACITY WHILE PROVIDING TEMPORARY HOUSING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. CAPSC PROVIDES THE FOLLOWINGS PROGRAMS: H20 HELP TO OTHERS WATER BILL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME RATE PAYERS OF SANTA ROSA WATER.PATHWAYS HOUSING TEMPORARY AND LOWINCOME SHELTER, TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT SUPPORT HOUSING PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF CARE IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED WITH STRENGTHS BASED CASE MANAGEMENT, TRAUMA INFORMED SERVICES AND PEER SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS.VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) FREE, QUALITY TAX RETURN PREPARATION TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS. OUR PREPARERS ARE VOLUNTEERS CERTIFIED BY THE IRS. SEASON OF SHARING PROGRAM SONOMA COUNTY A PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE'S ANNUAL GIVING DRIVE AND ADMINISTERED BY CAPSC. IT PROVIDES SUPPORT TO SONOMA COUNTY INDIVIDUALS NEEDING ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, DEPOSIT, UNEXPECTED CRITICAL FAMILY NEEDS COSTS THAT AFFECT HEALTH OR LIVELIHOOD PROVIDED IN THE FORM OF GRANTS THAT ARE PAID DIRECTLY TO THE SUPPLIER OF SERVICES, SUCH AS A LANDLORDS.
  3. $3.2 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT / YOUTH PROGRAMS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AMONG LOWINCOME YOUTH, FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND YOUTH MENTORING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: PADRES UNIDOS, A TWO TEN WEEK SPANISH LANGUAGE PARENT TRAINING PROGRAM. THESE CLASSES HELP PARENTS AND THEIR YOUTH BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH POSITIVE COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING. WE EMPOWER FAMILIES TO RISE TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY CONNECTING THEM TO SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS AND EDUCATION. SERVICES PROVIDED ARE PADRES UNIDOS, YOUTH MENTORING AND CHILDCARE PROVIDED DURING THE TIME CLASS IS IN SESSION.
  4. $1.7 million spent. DISASTER RELIEFTHE DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED AFTER THE 2017 TUBBS FIRE AND HAS CONTINUED TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SUBSEQUENT DISASTERS AND CRISES, INCLUDING THE COVID PANDEMIC. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED FOR RENT, DEPOSIT, MORTGAGE, ESSENTIAL NEEDS, AND UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED REBUILDING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRES.
  5. HEALTH AND WELLNESSIN ORDER FOR SONOMA COUNTY TO BE THE HEALTHIEST COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA, HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROVIDES ACCESS TO MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES IN ORDER TO FOSTER HEALTH EQUITY. HEALTH AND WELLNESS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: COMMUNITY & SCHOOL HEALTH PROVIDESVITAL SCHOOLBASED HEALTH SERVICES IN THE ROSELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCLUDING VISION, HEARING AND VACCINATION SCREENING, AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. GIVE KIDS A SMILE DAY! AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE DURING THE FIRST WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY, TO PROVIDE FREE DENTAL SERVICES TO UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN SONOMA COUNTY BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0 TO 18 399 DENTAL SCREENINGS FOR KINDER AND 1ST GRADE STUDENTS WERE PROVIDED THROUGH THE SCHOOL NURSING PROGRAM. 55 TOTAL CHILDREN RECEIVED DENTAL SERVICES THROUGH THE GIVE KIDS A SMILE DAY!
  6. EDUCATION (SCHOOL READINESS) PROGRAMPROVIDES LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT WILL ENHANCE THEIR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. EDUCATION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:PASITOS PLAYGROUPS PREPARES YOUNG CHILDREN AGED 2 TO 4 YEARS OLD TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL WITH ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD LANGUAGE, EARLY LITERACY, FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND SOCIAL ABILITY.VIA ESPERANZA CENTRO DE EDUCATION LOCATED AT LEWIS SCHOOL, THE PROJECT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO SUCCEED THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CLASSES AND PLAYGROUPS, PARENT EDUCATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION, COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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 February 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 May 1971.

    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.