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Greenlining Institute

EIN 94-3173571 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE ("GREENLINING") WORKS TO BUILD A NATION WHERE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THRIVE AND RACE IS NEVER A BARRIER TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. GREENLINING IS THE SOLUTION TO REDLINING. WE ADVANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND EMPOWERMENT (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR THROUGH ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY AND COALITION BUILDING, RESEARCH, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$12.0 million
Spending
$11.6 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
28.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
77
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$370,705, president & 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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. $2.0 million spent. CLIMATE EQUITY - GREENLINING SUPPORTS HEALTHY AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THAT BENEFIT FROM THE JOBS AND WEALTH CREATED BY THE GREEN ECONOMY AND REDUCED RESILIENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS. WE WORK AT THE FOREFRONT OF CLIMATE EQUITY AND RESILIENCE INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR, INCREASE CLEAN TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND ACCESS TO OTHER CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES, AND SUPPORT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO CHALLENGES POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.
  2. $1.7 million spent. GREENLINING THE BLOCK SUPPORTS LOCAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTING THEM WITH THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND CONNECTING THEM TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO DEVELOP CLIMATE RESILIENCE PROJECTS. SUCH PROJECTS INCLUDE ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY UPGRADES, SOLAR INSTALLATIONS ON SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING COMPLEXES, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS, ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAR SHARE PROGRAMS AND MORE.
  3. $1.6 million spent. CAPACITY BUILDING - GREENLINING PROVIDES DEEP CAPACITY BUILDING, PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CATALYZE LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS FOR CHANGE. WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN PLACE TO SEED PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, DIRECT IMMEDIATE BENEFITS TO HISTORICALLY UNDER-INVESTED COMMUNITIES, AND BUILD LONG-TERM CAPACITY AND COMMUNITY POWER. WE WORK TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL LEADERSHIP TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN AND EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE THEIR DEMANDS ARE PRIORITIZED AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.
  4. $2.8 million spent. LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY TRAINS AND EMPOWERS MULTI-RACIAL AND MULTI-ETHNIC COLLEGE STUDENTS AND EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY ACROSS THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND NONPROFIT SECTORS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY IN RACIAL EQUITY POLICY-MAKING PAIRED WITH CAREER ADVICE, JOB PLACEMENT SUPPORT, AND MEMBERSHIP IN A NETWORK OF OVER 1,000 ALUMNI ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY AND LEADERSHIP.ECONOMIC EQUITY - GREENLINING DEVELOPS MULTIFACETED STRATEGIES TO CLOSE THE WEALTH GAP FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND ESTABLISH PATHWAYS TO FINANCIAL SECURITY AND PROSPERITY. WE HOLD FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTABLE TO MEET THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND HELP ENSURE THAT LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE NOT LEFT OUT OF NEW WEALTH-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE TRANSITION TO A DIGITAL ECONOMY.ANNUAL CONFERENCE - GREENLINING'S CONFERENCE IS USUALLY HELD ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS AND BRINGS TOGETHER POLICY MAKERS, ANALYSTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT ARE CENTRAL TO GREENLINING'S WORK.CASA JOAQUIN MURRIETA - CASA JOAQUIN MURRIETA IS A STUDENT HOUSING FACILITY FOR FIRST GENERATION, LOW INCOME STUDENTS OF COLOR AT UC BERKELEY. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, GREENLINING RUNS A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

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 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 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 July 1993.

    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.