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Community Bridges

EIN 94-2460211 · Watsonville, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To provide meals, transportation, family resources and education, child care, nutritional education and assistance, and referral services to the neediest members of the community, including seniors, low income families with children, immigrants, the disabled, and those with medical needs.

Income
$24.9 million
Spending
$25.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 76%
Employees
242
Volunteers
245
Highest pay
$204,828, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 June 30, 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 (10)
  1. $4.4 million spent. The Child and Adult Care Food Program, using U.S. Department of Agriculture funding awarded by the CA State Department of Education, provided 1,746,644 meal subsidies to children and adults at more than 450 licensed day care centers in FY 24/25.
  2. $3.3 million spent. The Lift Line CTSA paratransit program, using a combination of Federal, State, Municipal, Foundation funding and program income provided a total of 80,201 rides in FY 24/25
  3. $2.7 million spent. La Manzana Family Resource Center (LMCR), a program of the family resource collective, provided 6,093 summer lunch meals, 2,052 hours of advocacy, 733 hours of education, 318 counseling sessions and provided youth services. LMCR provided comprehensive case management for disaster response and distributed 1.25 million dollars in disaster assistance.
  4. $2.7 million spent. The Early Education Division, using primarily California Department of Education funding, operates five state funded and one private pay early education site across Santa Cruz County. In FY 24/25, there were 132 children that attended 17,876 classroom days.
  5. $2.6 million spent. The Women, Infants & Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC), using US Department of Agriculture funding awarded by the CA State Department of Public Health, evaluated and qualified low income families, providing 77,451 food vouchers, as well as provided nutrition and breastfeeding classes in FY 24/25.
  6. $2.3 million spent. Elderday expended $2,337,054 to provide 13,783 units of attendance days of adult day health care and social services.
  7. $2.0 million spent. Meals on Wheels, using primarily US Department of Health and Human Services funding, awarded by the Area Agency on Aging Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, provided 195,874 home delivered and congregate meals to older Americans in FY 24/25.
  8. $686,510 spent. The Mountain Community Resources program expended $686,510 to provide 8,166 units of counseling, education and community development.
  9. $547,817 spent. The Live Oak Family Resouce Center expended $547,817 to provide 766 units of counseling, education, outreach, application assistance, and referral services.
  10. $238,812 spent. The Nueva Vista Community Resources expended $238,812 to provide 1,307 units of information & referral, community development, youth services, and emergency food.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 January 1978.

    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.