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Catalyst California

EIN 95-4835230 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CATALYST CALIFORNIA ADVOCATES FOR RACIAL JUSTICE BY BUILDING POWER AND TRANSFORMING PUBLIC SYSTEMS. WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, CONDUCT INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, DEVELOP POLICIES FOR ACTIONABLE CHANGE, AND SHIFT MONEY AND POWER BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$13.3 million
Spending
$11.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
68
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$378,687, 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 107% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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 (5)
  1. $2.0 million spent. EQUITY IN COMMUNITY INVESTMENTSWE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO EQUIP THEM WITH THE BUDGET AND ADVOCACY TOOLS NECESSARY TO WIN SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS THAT HELP ALL CALIFORNIANS THRIVE. THROUGH BUDGET AND POLICY ANALYSIS, TRAININGS, AND CAMPAIGN SUPPORT, WE DISMANTLE THE LEGACY OF PUBLIC DISINVESTMENT AND CRIMINALIZATION THAT HAS CREATED RACE-BASED DISPARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES' HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
  2. $1.8 million spent. EDUCATIONAL EQUITYTHE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY TEAM WORKS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF RACIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY IN CALIFORNIA TO BUILD A B-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT ADVANCES HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATES, AND FURTHERS CONNECTION, HEALING, WELLBEING, AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AT SCHOOL SITES AND IN COMMUNITIES. WORKING DEEPLY WITH COMMUNITY AND LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS, THE TEAM WORKS TO ADVANCE THE VISION OF A TRANSFORMATIVE, RACIALLY JUST, AND RELATIONSHIP-CENTERED B-12 SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS OF EVERY CHILD IN CALIFORNIA.
  3. $586,207 spent. POLITICAL VOICEPOLITICAL VOICE WORKS TO MAKE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MORE PARTICIPATORY AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. OUR GOAL IS THAT ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO GENUINELY PARTICIPATE IN THE MAKING OF EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY, IN WAYS THAT GO BEYOND JUST VOTING, AND THAT GOVERNMENTS RESPOND EQUITABLY TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, WE ADVOCATE FOR RACIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY JUST DEMOCRACY REFORMS.
  4. $252,782 spent. REIMAGINE JUSTICE & SAFETYTHE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM WAS BORNE OUT OF AMERICA'S RACIST FOUNDING AND CONTINUES TO DEVASTATE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. DATA SHOW THAT CALIFORNIANS OF COLOR ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY POLICED, ARRESTED, INCARCERATED, AND SUBJECTED TO HARSHER SENTENCES THAN WHITES. AT THE SAME TIME, RATES OF VIOLENCE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR DESPITE DECADES OF LANDMARK INVESTMENTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INCARCERATION. THESE DEEP-SEATED HARMS HAVE ERODED PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR SYSTEM OF SAFETY.
  5. $4.2 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING CROSS PROGRAMMATIC PROGRAMS.

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 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 March 2001.

    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.