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Solar Community Housing Association

EIN 94-2612564 · Davis, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCHA IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING LOW-INCOME COOPERATIVE HOUSING THAT WORKS TO CONFRONT AND CRITIQUE SYSTEMS OF OPRESSION THROUGH ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS, INCLUSIVE SELF-GOVERNANCE AND ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC MODELS.

Income
$700,391
Spending
$589,484
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 95%
Employees
8
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$480, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $483,138 spent. SCHA PROVIDED HOUSING TO 89 LOW-INCOME MEMBERS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. ON AVERAGE, OUR RENTS WERE 71% OF THE WEIGHTED AVERAGE MARKET RENT FOR BED LEASES IN DAVIS IN 2024. WE OFFERED $9985 IN RENT ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS IN NEED. WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SACRAMENTO VALLEY COLLEGE CORPS, PROVIDING OUR MEMBERS AND LOW-INCOME COLLEGE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR SERVICE WITH SCHA AND GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT. THIS YEAR WE FOCUSED ON NEGOTIATIONS WITH UC DAVIS FOR A 20 YEAR GROUND LEASE EXTENSION FOR THE BAGGINS END DOMES TO CODIFY SCHA AND UCD'S COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONSITE. WE COMPLETED UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL UPGRADES TO THE FIRST HALF OF THE DOMES, AND NEGOTIATED A CONTRIBUTION FROM UCD TO COMPLETE UPGRADES FOR THE SECOND HALF. WE STRENGTHENED OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND LEARNING COMMUNITIES OF UC DAVIS TO LEAD LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS ADJACENT TO THE DOMES COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 June 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 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.