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Oakland CA | IRS ruling year: 1997 | EIN: 94-3255070
Community Initiatives acts as a thought-partner and provides professional services to nonprofit startups, established initiatives, networks, and collaborations. We s ... (More)
Community Initiatives acts as a thought-partner and provides professional services to nonprofit startups, established initiatives, networks, and collaborations. We sponsor projects for the benefit of communities in service to social change. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores: 90% Accountability & Finance, 10% Culture & Community. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
The IRS is significantly delayed in processing nonprofits' annual tax filings (Forms 990). As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Community Initiatives is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations. Please check with the charity directly for any questions you may have.
Community Initiatives has earned a 100% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
This Accountability & Finance score represents IRS Form 990 data up until FY 2020, which is the most recent Form 990 currently available to us.
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Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 11/11 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 11/11 - 25/25 pts
Charity Navigator looks for at least 3 board members, with more than 50% of those members identified as independent (not salaried).
The presence of an independent governing body is strongly recommended by many industry professionals to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Audit or Financial Review - Audited - 20/20 ptsIndependent Audit or Financial Review - Audited - 20/20 pts
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
|---|---|
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsConflict of Interest Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Board Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 ptsBoard Meeting Minutes - Documented - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed - 3/3 ptsDocument Retention and Destruction - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 ptsWhistleblower Policy - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Website - Listed - 3/3 ptsWebsite - Listed - 3/3 pts
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 13.59% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 13.59% - 15/15 pts
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
| Liabilities to Assets Ratio | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| Less than 50% | Full Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Partial Credit |
| 60% or more | No Credit |
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Ratio - 83.26% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 83.26% - 25/25 pts
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
| Program Expense Percentage | Amount of Credit Received |
|---|---|
| 70% or higher | Full Credit |
| 60% - 69.9% | Partial Credit |
| 50% - 59.9% | Zero Points for Program Expense Score |
| Below 50% | Zero Points for Both Program Expense AND Liabilities to Assets Scores |
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2020
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Described in section 170(b)1)(a)(vi) of the Code (BMF activity code: 994)
Other inner city or community benefit activities (BMF activity code: 429)
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (Community Initiatives) or EIN (943255070) in the 'Search Term' field.
This organization was impacted by COVID-19 in a way that effected their financial health in 2020. This normally would have reduced their star rating. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them, and doing this pauses our revision of their rating. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Community Initiatives reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Staffing
Balance Sheet
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
We applied for and received two rounds of the PPP loans which were distributed to our fiscally sponsored projects which allowed those that could modify their work objectives to keep their staff employed. Additionally, we received a higher volume of project applications including short-term projects intended to respond to the pandemic specifically, which provided stability for both their work and our greater organization. We reallocated organizational dollars to meet the unexpected costs of personal protective equipment (PPE) and state mandated regulations for our administrative office to keep employees safe.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
In order to keep our staff safe and socially distanced, our administrative staff moved to fully remote delivery of services to our fiscally sponsored projects. While it was a big shift, we were able to complete this move over a weekend, which effectively prevented any interruptions to our fiscally sponsored projects. Our program focus expanded to include emergency fiscal sponsorship for projects that under normal circumstances would not be eligible or were planned as short term responses to the pandemic. Such projects included small temporary, neighborhood based volunteer relief efforts. We also helped to facilitate hyperlocal efforts such as community and faith-based efforts that supported our most vulnerable residents.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
We shifted our delivery of programs to virtual meetings, employing Zoom and Microsoft Teams, as we moved our administrative team to work remotely. Through a partnership with a network of Bay Area foundations and the county of Alameda, we launched a COVID-19 fund and raised public dollars to support local relief efforts. We prioritized programming that supported local relief work including foodbanks, rent relief, PPE distribution, and other essential supplies. Part of our response was to take a conservative approach to budget development to ensure sustainability of ongoing programs and employment for staff. We also supported project pivots to relief efforts, virtual programming, and strengthened online tools for more efficient remote support.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
Our organization implemented several new enhancements and innovations we believe will be beneficial in the event of future need, such as extreme weather events and public health crises. We intend to utilize the strategies we developed to quickly approve short-term emergent response projects to provide assistance where it was most needed. Our streamlined grantmaking policies better support community-based organizations through easier reporting and additional general operating support. We also strengthened our policies and processes around grantmaking to individuals. Both of these policy pivots can be utilized in the case of future need. In the establishment of working relationship with local agencies, we will be quick to provide relief efforts which can be replicated in the future We are in the evaluation process in consideration of the benefits of the continuation of offering a hybrid work model for our administrative staff.
Not Currently Scored
Community Initiatives cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Community Initiatives reported its largest program on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES (CI) PROVIDES COMPLETE ADMINISTRATION IN THE AREAS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT, PAYROLL, TAX FILING, LEGAL, AN ... (More)
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES (CI) PROVIDES COMPLETE ADMINISTRATION IN THE AREAS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT, PAYROLL, TAX FILING, LEGAL, AND COACHING TO ITS FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS.COMMUNITY INITIATIVES PROJECTS WORK ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES IN DIVERSE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AND CREATE PUBLIC GOOD. OUR CURRENT FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS BENEFIT ARTS AND CULTURE, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)FOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, CI PROVIDED FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS ACCOUNTING SERVICES, MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS, FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, TRACKING OF GRANT REVENUES, AND AUDITING SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUAL FUNDING AGENCY AUDITS, AS WELL AS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL AUDIT.FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, CI PROVIDED FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS SERVICES INCLUDING HIRING/TERMINATION PROCESSING, A 401(K) PROGRAM, AND ALL BENEFITS TO OVER 250 EMPLOYEES.IN THE AREA OF GRANTS MANAGEMENT, CI MANAGED THE PHILANTHROPIC RELATIONSHIPS OF OUR PROJECTS WITH APPROXIMATELY 347 INSTITUTIONAL DONORS. CI RECEIVED MORE THAN 2,000 CASH DONATIONS AND 183 GRANTS, OPERATED A WEBSITE FOR ITS PROJECTS THROUGH WHICH DONATIONS WERE MADE, AND PROVIDED A PROCESS FOR RECEIPT OF STOCK DONATIONS. WE ALSO TRACKED THE INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTING ON GRANTS RECEIVED AND PROVIDED FINANCIAL AND PROGRAMMATIC OVERSIGHT FOR THESE GRANTS. (Less)
Community Initiatives has earned a 99% for the Culture & Community beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves.
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Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 ptsConstituent Feedback - Data Available - 100/100 pts
30% of beacon score
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
Who are the people you serve with your mission? Describe briefly.
We serve a variety of different groups with our mission because we are a fiscal sponsor that sponsors many different projects that reach out to different communities.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.)
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
With whom does your organization share the feedback you got from the people you serve?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Other means
How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship with them or shifted power - over decisions, resources, rules or in other ways - to them?
We have received a lot of positive feedback from implementing our annual feedback survey. Most of our projects look forward to giving us their feedback because they know we take their responses to heart and they observe the changes we have implemented year after year.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
We implemented a new budgeting software that integrates with our accounting software, Intacct, so that the projects we sponsor can more easily complete their annual budgets on time. This will make s sure that they are set to continue implementing their programmatic outreach.
Equity Practices - Data Available - 98/100 ptsEquity Practices - Data Available - 98/100 pts
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 98 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 10 Equity Practices. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective equity policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
Equity Practices (4/7) | |
|---|---|
We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race. | |
We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and/or portfolios. | |
We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization/'s programs, portfolios, and the populations served. | |
We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support. | |
We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders. | |
We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured | |
We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
Equity Policies and Procedures (6/7) | |
|---|---|
We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity. | |
We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions. | |
We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization. | |
We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board. | |
We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability. | |
We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team. | |
We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization. | |
Community Initiatives cannot currently be evaluated by our Leadership & Adaptability methodology because we have not received data from the charity regarding its leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
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Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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