Your donation attempt encountered a problem. Please refresh the page to try again.
You're faster than our page! Give the page a little longer to finish loading and try your donation again.
555 NORTHGATE DR STE 201
San Rafael CA 94903-3696
San Rafael CA | IRS ruling year: 1971 | EIN: 94-6136365
COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN'S MISSION IS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE WELLBEING BY PROVIDING THE EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND VITAL SERVICES THEY NEED. TOGE ... (More)
COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN'S MISSION IS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE WELLBEING BY PROVIDING THE EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND VITAL SERVICES THEY NEED. TOGETHER, WE BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF FAIR AND LASTING CHANGE IN SERVICE TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR ALL. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 90%, 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: 32% Accountability & Finance, 50% Impact & Results, 7% Leadership & Adaptability, 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 As a result, the Accountability & Finance score for Community Action Marin is outdated and the overall rating may not be representative of its current operations.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 Action Marin 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.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Not ApplicableBoard Composition - 12/12 - 25/25 ptsBoard Composition - 12/12 - 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 - 39.33% - 15/15 ptsLiabilities to Assets Ratio - 39.33% - 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 - 87.07% - 25/25 ptsProgram Expense Ratio - 87.07% - 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:
Supplying money, goods or services to the poor (BMF activity code: 560)
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 Action Marin) or EIN (946136365) 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 Action Marin reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Revenue
Staffing
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Our agency became the county's fiscal administrator of rental assistance, working around the clock to help ensure people stayed housed. Many other changes in contracts and grants required us to stay nimble.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Program delivery for in-person services such as childcare and homeless outreach required investments in COVID-19 supplemental pay and safety equipment for staff. Community and staff got additional support with technology to ensure connections through remote operations.
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
We modified as needed to maintain support of our community, providing in-person and remote options across programs as warranted. We expanded provision of basic needs, including rental, utilities, cash, and food assistance. We included support of tele-health and disaster response in the county. We increased policy advocacy for rent freezes and eviction moritoria.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
Remote work and flexible scheduling for some staff will remain part of our operations.
Community Action Marin has earned a 80% for the Impact & Results beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon estimates the actual impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot Applicable
Program
Childcare Nutrition
Activities
The nonprofit prepares and serves meals to beneficiaries.
Program Type
Food Distribution
Beneficiaries Served
Program Geography
Time Period of Data
1/1/21 to 12/31/21
Outcomes: Changes in the lives of those served by a nonprofit. They can be caused by the nonprofit.
Costs: The money spent by a nonprofit and its partners and beneficiaries.
Impact: Outcome caused by a nonprofit relative to its cost.
Cost-effectiveness: A judgment as to whether the cost was a good use of resources to cause the outcome.
Outcome Metric
A meal provided to a person in need
Outcome Data Source
Ratings are based on data the nonprofit itself collects on its work. We use the most recent year with sufficient data. Typically, this data allows us to calculate direct changes in participants' lives, such as increased income.
Outcome data collected during the program. The nonprofit submitted data on the amount of food it provides.
Method for Attributing Outcomes
We don't know if the observed changes were caused by the nonprofit's program or something else happening at the same time (e.g., a participant got a raise). To determine causation, we take the outcomes we observe and subtract an estimate of the outcomes that would have happened even without the program (i.e., counterfactual outcomes).
We assume that the distribution of a meal from one nonprofit's food distribution program does not diminish the amount of food distributed by any other (neighboring) food distribution program. This “counterfactual” assumption about the amount of food distributed in the absence of the nonprofit’s food distribution program implies that the benefit of a meal to a beneficiary in need constitutes a net gain; the gain is not offset by reductions in food provided to other beneficiaries in need. We therefore set the counterfactual to zero.
Cost Data Source
After estimating the program's outcomes, we need to determine how much it cost to achieve those outcomes. All monetary costs are counted, whether they are borne by a nonprofit service deliverer or by the nonprofit’s public and private partners.
Program cost data reported by the nonprofit. Partner and beneficiary costs reported by the nonprofit or estimated by Charity Navigator.
Cost Calculation
$540,000 program costs + $23,753 partner costs + $0 beneficiary costs = $563,753 total costs
We calculate impact, defined as the change in outcomes attributable to a program divided by the cost to achieve those outcomes.
Impact Calculation
$563,753 total costs / 135,000 meals provided = roughly $4 provides a meal to a person in need.
Benchmark for Rating
Impact & Results scores of food distribution programs are based on the cost of a meal relative to the cost that a food-secure person incurs to buy a meal in that county. Programs receive an Impact & Results score of 100 if they are less than 75% the cost of a meal and a score of 80 if they are less than 125%. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the benchmark for cost-effectiveness, it earns a score of 65.
Determination
Cost-effective
Community Action Marin reported its three largest programs on its FY 2020 Form 990 as:
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMCOMMUNITY ACTION MARIN HAS PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO THE FAMILIES OF MARIN FOR OVER 30 YEARS. WE ARE THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE IN ... (More)
CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMCOMMUNITY ACTION MARIN HAS PROVIDED HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TO THE FAMILIES OF MARIN FOR OVER 30 YEARS. WE ARE THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE IN THE COUNTY, SERVING FAMILIES OF LOW INCOME FROM MARIN CITY TO NOVATO, SAN RAFAEL TO WEST MARIN. 25% OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 IN MARIN COUNTY HAVE LOW ENOUGH INCOME TO QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE, AND WE ENSURE THAT CHILDREN FROM INFANCY TO SCHOOL-AGE DO WELL BY GIVING THEM A SAFE, CARING, HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME TO HAVE FUN, LEARN, AND EXPLORE, SETTING THEM UP FOR SCHOOL AND LIFE SUCCESS. (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
HEAD START & EARLY HEAD STARTWE ARE THE COUNTY'S HEAD START AGENCY, OPERATING THIS FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AGES 0-5 FROM INCOME-ELIGIBLE FAMILIES GET HIGH-QUALITY CHI ... (More)
HEAD START & EARLY HEAD STARTWE ARE THE COUNTY'S HEAD START AGENCY, OPERATING THIS FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AGES 0-5 FROM INCOME-ELIGIBLE FAMILIES GET HIGH-QUALITY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SUPPORT WITH HEALTH, NUTRITION, SOC (Less)
Spent in most recent FY
Percent of program expenses
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESTHE AGENCY'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDE HOMELESS OUTREACH, PEER EDUCATION AND TRAINING, FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS, AND PEER-LED SUPPORT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO TEACHING, EMPOWERING, A ... (More)
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESTHE AGENCY'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDE HOMELESS OUTREACH, PEER EDUCATION AND TRAINING, FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS, AND PEER-LED SUPPORT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO TEACHING, EMPOWERING, AND ADVOCATING FOR OUR CLIENTS TO RECOVER IN COMMUNITY AN (Less)
Community Action Marin has earned a 100% 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.
Learn more
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.
People of low-income in Marin County across all demographics.
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Paper surveys, Case management notes, Community meetings or town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, 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, Our community partners
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 changed our program selection criteria for childcare through parent feedback on their priorities. We hosted focus groups focused on economic recovery to aid in sharing the low-income voice in county efforts.
What challenges does your organization face in collecting feedback from the people you serve?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Briefly describe a recent change that your organization made in response to feedback from the people you serve.
Through a parent survey in our child development program, we learned that center hours needed to adjust to fit the non-traditional work hours of our families better; with specific feedback, we made the change to better meet community needs.
Equity Practices - Data Available - 100/100 ptsEquity Practices - Data Available - 100/100 pts
70% of beacon score
This organization's score of 100 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 12 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 (7/7) | |
|---|---|
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 (5/7) | |
|---|---|
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 Action Marin has earned a 100% for the Leadership & Adaptability beacon. See the metrics below for more information.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditNot ApplicableMission - 10/10 ptsMission - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
We make it possible for people to achieve well-being by providing the education, mental health, and vital services they need. Together, we break down the barriers that get in the way of fair and lasting change in service to better outcomes for all.
Vision - 10/10 ptsVision - 10/10 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
All of us in Marin have an equal opportunity to live our lives with dignity and respect.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals - 20/20 ptsGoals - 20/20 pts
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Each employee belongs - Establish an inclusive culture and create a warm and professional work environment.
Goal Type: Invest in the capacity of our organization (financial, management, technical, etc.).
Goal Two: Access to services/Whole family approach - Enhance impact through a focus on listening to needs and on leveraging community strengths; implement a multi-generational approach to help people thrive.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Three: Continuous improvement - Increase effectiveness and excellence through a focus on planning, learning, data, and outcomes.
Goal Type: New program(s) based on observed changes in needs among our constituencies/communities served.
Leadership Development - 15/15 ptsLeadership Development - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Examples of training opportunities provided to agency staff in past 12 months - Cultural humility; Trauma-informed practice and resilience; Leadership for Equity and Opportunity; People-Manager training series and coaching; Program-specific development opportunities.
Mobilizing for Mission - 15/15 ptsMobilizing for Mission - 15/15 pts
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Policy Advocacy
Strategic partnerships are a central component of how we advance racial and economic justice. We partner with other service providers to develop approaches that best respond to our common community/clients and to inform funders and public systems on ways to improve and advance equity. We are a founding partner of a local equitable recovery policy task force which has successfully advocated for the extension of a local eviction moratorium and equity as a central criteria for any recovery efforts or investments. Our external communication and marketing efforts, including periodic Op Eds, aim at raising awarenes and connecting stakeholders with action to advance our mission and vision. We engage clients and community in shared learning and leadership on the issues that connect us, including parent Policy Council leaders.
Adaptability Story - 30/30 ptsAdaptability Story - 30/30 pts
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Over the past year, people of color and those with low-income in our community have been largely left out of recovery efforts. We have adapted and expanded programs and services in response to community need and pursued new public/private partnerships to address systemic inequities and improve access to vital services. Our early childhood programs and homeless outreach services have continued to operate in-person throughout the pandemic, incorporating health and safety protocols to protect well-being of clients and employees while continuing these vital services. Other programs operated for extended periods online and now operate under a hybrid model of some in-person and some online. These adaptations have included providing devices, training and coaching for staff as well as clients on how to use various technologies. We have grown some programs significantly to address needs, including rent and cash assistance, and emergency food. Staff and clients alike have experienced increased need for mental health supports which we are incorporating across the agency and across programs. New partnerships in community have allowed us to align our approach with that of other service providers and work with local leaders to solve pressing issues. Our work has ensured that those most in need are receiving critical supports at this challenging time via the trusted relationships that are central to how we operate and support better outcomes tomorrow.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
The Giving Basket is having some issues. If you wish to donate, please refresh the page. If the problem persists contact us.
Cart ID: Not Assigned
The Giving Basket is having some issues. If you wish to donate, please refresh the page. If the problem persists contact us.
Cart ID: Not Assigned
