Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Community Services Unlimited

EIN 95-3218396 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE JUSTICE-DRIVEN COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
21
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$114,293, co-executive director

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

Fair: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 65 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    4 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $2.3 million spent. IN MARCH OF 2020 THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECOGNIZED THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCY REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS ("COVID-19") IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. A YEAR LATER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WAS PASSED ESTABLISHING THE CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND. THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES (COUNTY) THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND BUSINESS AFFAIRS (DCBA) HAS PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES UNLIMITED INC. TO IMPLEMENT THE HEALTHY FOOD KICKSTARTER PROJECT (KICKSTARTER).KICKSTARTER SUPPORTS ACCESS TO AND THE DELIVERY OF GRANT-FUNDED PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDES AFFORDABLE, FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS TO THE COUNTY'S MOST FOOD INSECURE COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE EQUITABLE, POST-PANDEMIC FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. KICKSTARTER ADDRESSES AND ALLEVIATES FOOD INSECURITY REGULARLY EXPERIENCED, AND COMPOUNDED FURTHER BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) POPULATIONS, LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, AND THOSE LIVING IN COUNTY-IDENTIFIED TARGET COMMUNITIES.
  2. $1.7 million spent. EFOD (EQUITABLE FOOD ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT) IS A NATIONAL COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM CONSISTING OF A MULTIRACIAL COALITION OF COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS PRACTITIONERS AND LEADERS DRIVING FOOD-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AS VEHICLES FOR SHARED POWER, CULTURAL EXPRESSION, AND COMMUNITY ASSET-BUILDING.
  3. $804,310 spent. VILLAGE MARKET PLACE (VMP) IS A MISSION-DRIVEN BUSINESS LOCATED IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES THAT SELLS AND DISTRIBUTES FRESH, ORGANIC PRODUCE, HERBS AND FOOD PRODUCTS CULTIVATED FROM COMMUNITY MINI-FARMS AND PURCHASED FROM LOCAL FARMERS. THE VMP BUSINESS GENERATES REVENUE THROUGH PRODUCE BAG SUBSCRIPTIONS AND SEPARATE FOOD PRODUCT SALES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.CALFRESH IS AN EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH CALFRESH APPLICANTS INCLUDING PRESENTATIONS, ENROLLMENT CLINICS, WORKSHOPS/TRAININGS, TROUBLESHOOTING, AND ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT.GARDEN GATEWAY WORKSHOP IS AN EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE NATURAL GARDENING AND HEALTHY COOKING WORKSHOPS FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES. PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED RESOURCES TO TAKE HOME TO PUT INTO PRACTICE NEW SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE AT HOME.FROM THE GROUND UP IS AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT OFFERS AT-RISK YOUTH TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP IN FARMING, GARDENING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS, AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.

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 May 1978.

    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.