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Passes our checks

Faith in Action Network

EIN 94-2206497 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FAITH IN ACTION(FIA) IS AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO CREATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS FACING URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. SINCE 1972 FIA HAS SUCCESSFULLY WORKED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, IMPROVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER, BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REDEVELOP COMMUNITIES AND REVITALIZE DEMOCRACY. FIA NETWORK HELPS ENGAGE ORDINARY PEOPLE IN PUBLIC LIFE, BUILDING A STRONG LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP IN THOUSANDS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA. NONPARTISAN AND MULTICULTURAL, FIA NETWORK PROVIDES AN OPPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE AND CONGREGATIONS TO TRANSLATE THEIR FAITH IN ACTION. MORE THAN 40 DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND FAITH TRADITIONS ARE PART OF THE FIA NETWORK. WITH MORE 3,000 MEMBERS INSTITUTIONS REPRESENTING ONE MILLION FAMILIES IN 250 CITIES AND 24 STATES, AS WELL AS A GROWING INTERNATIONAL NETWORK IN LATIN AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AFRICA, AND EASTERN EUROPE.

Income
$6.3 million
Spending
$10.9 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
54
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$221,178, managing director global

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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 71% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $2.7 million spent. NATIONAL POLICY AND CAMPAIGNS-IN 2024, IT WAS A YEAR OF UNIFIED ACTION AND PREPARATION FOR OUR NETWORK FEDERATIONS. WE CONVENED MULTIPLE TIMES AS A NETWORK WITH OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS TO ANALYZE AND PREPARE FOR ISSUE CAMPAIGNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE EQUIPPED OUR 42 FEDERATION DIRECTORS AND STAFF TO INCREASE POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION IN THEIR LOCAL CONTEXT WITH THEIR BASES. WE ALSO CONVENED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK INCLUDING DIRECTORS, LEADERS AND STAFF TO RATIFY POLITICAL AND NATIONAL CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES FOR THE ENTIRE NETWORK THAT INCLUDED A FOCUS ON HOUSING, EDUCATION, CLIMATE JUSTICE, AND MASS INCARCERATION. MORE THAN 125 PEOPLE GATHERED FROM OVER 30 FEDERATIONS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS THAT WE VOTED ON A COLLABORATIVE POLITICAL STRATEGY.
  2. $1.8 million spent. NETWORK FEDERATION SUPPORT-WE CONDUCTED A LISTENING CAMPAIGN WITH THIRTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TO ASK WHETHER FAITH IN ACTION WAS ADDING VALUE, OR COULD ADD VALUE, TO THEIR ORGANIZATION, AND IF SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO DIFFERENTLY TO HELP THEM BECOME MORE POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY BOARD MEMBERS, BEGAN VISITING EACH MEMBER FEDERATION TO HEAR HONEST FEEDBACK FROM THEIR BOARDS AND STAFF. WE LAUNCHED A FEDERATION FIRST PROCESS TO FOCUS NATIONAL STAFF ENERGY ON THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS. FAITH IN ACTION CONVENED A RETREAT WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.
  3. $1.6 million spent. INTERNATIONAL-ENABLED GRASSROOTS LEADERS IN 400 COMMUNITIES IN 14 COUNTRIES TO ORGANIZE THEIR NEIGHBORS TO SET PRIORITIES, HOLD THEIR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE TO FOLLOW THOSE PRIORITIES, AND WIN CLEAN WATER, NEW SCHOOLS, HEALTH CLINICS, ROADS, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.ENABLED GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AFRICA AND EASTERN EUROPE TO CAMPAIGN TO SUCCESSFULLY CHANGE PUBLIC POLICIES TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS, INCLUDING WINNING LAND TITLES FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN EL SALVADOR, AND IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE, HIGH QUALITY SEEDS, AND OTHER SUPPORTS FOR SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN HAITI.BEGAN NEW WORK IN COLOMBIA, PERU, AND KENYA.

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 December 1973.

    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.

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.