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Poor Magazine Inc

EIN 94-3330014 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

"All of Poor Magazine's programs are focused on providing community based media, art, education, & solutions. The goal is to create access for silenced voices of people of color, elderly & disa...List of Program Accomplishments 2024.-- We moved our 22nd resident into HOMEFULNESS #1 DEECOLONIZE ACADEMY is in our 11th year with 11 enrolled students and 3 of our graduates becoming teachers13th year of SLIDING SCALE CAF, a radical redistribution (mutual aid) of healthy food groceries, diapers & media, support for deep East Oakland every Thursday; Continued in-person People Skool for East Oakland poverty skolaz with Theatre of the Poor and Po Peoples Radio workshop series; The Po Poets and Poverty Skola authors of Poor Press (www.poorpress.net) released their books, poems and anthologies in Feb 2024. One new book to come in 2025!; Listen to PNNKEXU 96.1FM every Tuesday & Thursday for multi- generational radio programming: We are All Connected, The Peoples Botnica, Dr. Sweets Critiqu

Income
$545,126
Spending
$385,256
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
11.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 86% 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 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. $314,346 spent. Fighting against the war on our houseless bodies after the Supreme Court's Grants Pass decisionLed a national press conference to Decline to Accept Grants Pass.Launched "Sweeping us to Nowhere" WeSearch (aka research) investigation into sweeps after Grants Pass, with RooflessRadio reports across Yelamu (SF), Tovaangar (LA), Huchiun (Oakland), so-called Sacramento. Launched "Black Land Theft & Black Homelessness in Black History Month" youth and elder poverty skola WeSearch Report.
  2. Mamafesting Homefulness #4 in Tovaangar (LA) to permanently house our relativesBegan a movement/family collaboration with our fellow Houseless relatives at Aetna Street Solidarity to help them Liberate Mama Earth and build their own forever homes. This October, we had the first HERstoric Elephant Meeting with 22 houseless poverty skolaz in so-called LA to fully mamafest Homefulness #4 with the help of ancestors and an amazing solidarity family.
  3. Crushing Wheelchairs movie is in production - coming in 2025After selling out 3 productions of the original theater show, Crushing Wheelchairs, with an all Houseless cast honoring ancestors of homelessness, poLice terror and sweeps the Crushing Wheelchairs narrative film is in editing and will be released in 2025. View the "Behind The Scenes: CRUSHING WHEELCHAIRS" on Youtube and stay connected to learn more!
  4. Homefulness #2 in Deep East Huichin (Oakland) construction underwayThe construction of Homefulness #2, a fully off-grid project and a collaboration between Poor Magazine and Wood Street Commons, has commenced. We acquired the first two fully equipped container homes for Homefulness 2 water and sewer system and two Pachamama garden boxes launched with DeeColonize Academy students. Still working on raising money for off-grid solar power for this powerful liberation project.

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 March 2000.

    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.