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Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County Inc

EIN 94-2523780 · Watsonville, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To partner with the community to eliminate poverty.

Income
$10.8 million
Spending
$10.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
110
Volunteers
178
Highest pay
$320,067, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • 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, 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 (13)
  1. $1.9 million spent. EMERGENCY PAYMENT PROGRAMS- EMERGENCY PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES THAT ENABLE CALWORKS PARTICIPANTS AND OTHER REFERRED LOW-INCOME PEOPLE TO RETAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT, CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, MOVE INTO, RETAIN, OR IMPROVE HOUSING AND OTHER CRITICAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY ITEMS/SERVICES.
  2. $1.5 million spent. Santa Cruz County Immigration Project (SCCIP) - provides outreach, immigration legal assistance, and information and referral services to Santa Cruz and North Monterey County clients.
  3. $1.0 million spent. ALCANCE - The mission of Alcance is to provide youth amd adults impacted by poverty with employment services.
  4. $694,802 spent. RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FORMERLY THE SHELTER PROJECT) - PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WITH RENT ASSISTANCE TO AVOID EVICTION.
  5. $690,669 spent. Youth Homeless Response Team (YHRT): By outreach efforts we connect and identify unaccompanied at-risk youth ages 15-24, to individualized services needed to thrive, with Case management, Mentorship, and connection to Benefits and Services including Education and Employment, throughout Santa Cruz County.
  6. $585,201 spent. SPECIAL PROJECTS - Work is focused on Preparation, Response and Recovery for health, climate and natural disasters that impact the most vulnerable community members. Work includes: Coordination & Alignment of Services Communications & Community Engagement Infrastructure development.
  7. $538,784 spent. Recurso de Fuerza Village
  8. $369,160 spent. Network / HUB - Provides legal support and resources to help individuals and families navigate complex systems.
  9. $340,614 spent. Davenport Resource Service Center (DRSC) - operates a multi-service community center that provides food distributions, outreach, transportation, case management and translation services as well as recreational/educational activities for youth, teens, and seniors.
  10. $222,411 spent. CalAIM Services - Promoting housing stability by helping individuals and families overcome health and financial barriers to securing safe and affordable housing.
  11. $202,875 spent. El Pajaro Center
  12. $189,230 spent. DAY WORKER CENTER - PROVIDES A FACILITY AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR DAY LABORERS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
  13. $96,809 spent. Watsonville Works (WWKS) - We serve individuals over the age of 18 that are currently experiencing homelessness in Watsonville. Our goal is to provide them with necessary transitional job experience and tools so that they may join the work force and ultimately resolve their homelessness situation. We provide Transitional Work Experience and incentives (gift certificates at $25.00/3 day a week) and case management.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 1983.

    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.