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Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center

EIN 94-2793122 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Renaissance's mission is to transform lives and communities through entrepreneurship.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$7.8 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
54
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$224,074, ceo

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

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 74% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

    13 of 13 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 (4)
  1. $3.1 million spent. Renaissance Peninsula: In 2024, Renaissance Peninsula, which includes San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Unincorporated Alameda Counties, served 898 individuals, 73% of whom were lower-income. Our services included a mixture of online and in-person training. Our online training continues to be highly effective for clients who are skilled in using technology and have appropriate access to technology. We trained in technology basics (how to use Zoom, email, Google Classroom) and provided Chromebooks to individuals who rely solely on their phones for internet access. 323 businesses were served, and businesses received $403K in business capital.
  2. $1.3 million spent. Renaissance SoMa (South of Market San Francisco) was our largest San Francisco hub for entrepreneurs and is home to the Women's Business Center (WBC) in partnership with the USSBA. In 2024, SoMa and the WBC served 442 small businesses. Services included 1,239 hours of one-on-one advising, 172 workshops and courses on business planning, financial management, bookkeeping, operations, and management, with specialized trainings for starting a food business, launching a childcare business, and navigating contracting and procurement. We also offered sessions in digital marketing, e-commerce, AI, technology integration, and access to capital. Our low-to-no-cost programming, along with events such as Women Mean Business, Coffee and Community, and marketplaces, connected business owners with new customers and collaborators.
  3. $805,785 spent. Renaissance East Bay provided small business training, one-on-one consulting, and access to capital, networks and other resources to traditionally underserved individuals in Alameda and Contra Costa counties with an emphasis on the cities of Richmond, Antioch, Oakland and Pittsburg. We engaged motivated emerging and established entrepreneurs from communities that lack small business investment, educational resources, and entrepreneurial histories, and face discrimination by race, gender, sexual orientation, economic class, or past incarceration. Our clients are 93% very-low-to-moderate income.
  4. $641,047 spent. Renaissance Bayview: In 2024, Renaissance continued to provide virtual and in-person business support services to aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs in Bayview Hunters Point, one of the most marginalized and under-resourced communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through our Contractors Initiative, Renaissance Bayview worked intensively with small construction businesses, delivering training and mentoring support, while helping small business owners secure contracts that created quality jobs for residents in the community. We also provided business support services to brick-and-mortar retail businesses throughout the city with a primary focus on the communities of Fillmore, Visitacion Valley and Bayview Hunters Point.

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 May 1982.

    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.