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California Association for Microenterprise Opportunity

EIN 94-3246306 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO GROW A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS WHERE ALL ENTREPRENEURS HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED, CREATING FAMILY ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND COMMUNITY PROSPERITY.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
13
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$309,935, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 135% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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 (1)
  1. $4.8 million spent. CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION FOR MICROENTERPRISE OPPORTUNITY ("CAMEO") IS AN ASSOCIATION OF ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, AND INDIVIDUALS DEDICATED TO FURTHERING MICRO ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT IN CALIFORNIA AND NATIONALLY. CAMEO WAS FORMED IN CALIFORNIA IN 1993 AS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION. CAMEO'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES BY BUILDING CAPACITY FOR MICRO ENTERPRISE ORGANIZATIONS. CAMEO BUILDS CAPACITY OF PRACTITIONER ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER MEET CUSTOMER NEEDS AND IMPROVE THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR MICRO ENTERPRISE BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF MICRO ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT.CAMEO EXPANDS RESOURCES AND BUILDS CAPACITY FOR ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE PROVIDING ENTREPRENEURS WITH SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING, BUSINESS FINANCING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - COACHING, CAPITAL ASSISTANCE AND NETWORKING. CAMEO ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND BUILDS PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ITS ECONOMIC IMPACTS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM CATEGORIES: CAPACITY BUILDING CAMEO BUILDS INDUSTRY CAPACITY SO THAT UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE. THIS INCLUDES SAFE, FLEXIBLE SMALL BUSINESS CAPITAL; CULTURALLY COMPETENT SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, RESOURCES, AND REFERRALS; AND A PROFESSIONAL INDUSTRY AND ECOSYSTEM THAT CAN RESPOND TO COMMUNITY CONTEXT AND LOCAL NEEDS.COMMUNITY BUILDING CAMEO FOCUSES ON BUILDING COMMUNITY SO THAT ENTREPRENEURS CAN MORE EASILY NAVIGATE THEIR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEMS TO FIND THE SUPPORT AND SOLUTIONS THEY NEED. CAMEO AIMS TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL SERVICES ARE TRUSTED, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED, HIGH-QUALITY, AND ALIGNED WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS. CAMEO'S GOAL IS FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO FEEL SUPPORTED BY A COLLABORATIVE SERVICE NETWORK THAT IS GENUINELY INVESTED IN THEIR LONG-TERM SUCCESS.BUILD POWER CAMEO BUILDS POWER TO ENSURE ENTREPRENEURS ARE REPRESENTED AND SUPPORTED IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. THIS INCLUDES AMPLIFYING THEIR VOICES IN POLICY DEBATES THAT AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO START AND GROW BUSINESSES, FOSTERING A COLLABORATIVE SERVICE NETWORK THAT ADVOCATES FOR EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, AND ENSURING THAT POLICYMAKERS RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE ENTREPRENEURS PLAY IN THE ECONOMY AND PRIORITIZE THEIR NEEDS ACCORDINGLY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.