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Centers for Equity and Success Inc

EIN 94-2844443 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak19 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

To offer meaningful vocational and educational services for youth so that they may develop a positive self-image as well as a sense of hope and purpose for their future.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
103
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$201,511, 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: 19 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 107% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep 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

    0 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 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 (6)
  1. $3.4 million spent. Career Center- is a community hub of workforce development services designed to provide job seekers with career planning, linkages to a web of training opportunities throughout the city and assistance with job placement services and employers with assistance for connecting to city resources and pre-screened qualified job seekers for their opportunities.
  2. $928,101 spent. Construction - The Construction Training project provides an intensive 400-hour construction training bootcamp, providing pathways out of poverty for Bay Area residents who are most in need. The Construction Trainings core program is a 16-week training that integrates hard skills training in green construction and related trades with life skills training, academics, intensive case management, wraparound services, career coaching, and job placement and retention services. Students graduate with basic skills in ten trades and earn five industry-recognized certifications, enabling graduates to secure jobs at 1 to 3 levels above entry-level pay grades.
  3. $586,677 spent. Arts- We recognize that the arts have unique power, enhancing academic and professional achievement, spotlighting the expressive voices of our community, and serving as a source for healing, liberation, and advocacy.Current programming includes visual arts, improvisation arts, and digital arts. virtual and in person offerings take place at the Juvenile Justice Center in San Francisco, Maguire Correctional Facility in San Mateo, Youth Service Center in San Mateo, Success Centers Oakland, and the Education & Employment Training Center in San Francisco.
  4. $306,537 spent. Education services- Early Morning Study Academy (EMSA) is a GED school targeted for youth in the juvenile justice and foster care system, a Teachers Academy formed in 2014 to respond to the need to advice and train educators of the nuances associated with the new GED test and curriculum, and the GED testing center to provide an opportunity for any youth to complete the national GED test
  5. $89,876 spent. Effective July 1, 2023, Success Centers entered into an Assignment and Assumption Agreement with Renaissance Parents of Success to assume fiscal sponsorship of The Village Project. As a result, Success Centers began serving as the fiscal sponsor for The Village Project.
  6. $16,925 spent. Youth Employment $ Training-Success Centers offers training in the skills that lead to meaningful employment for young people ages 16 to 24. At every step, we meet the various needs of our participants. Participants often engage in New Directions programs while also completing their education at Success Centers.

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 April 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.