California Forward FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Hercules, CA501(c)(3)Public & Societal BenefitEIN 26-0566540Revenue $2.5M in FY2020

On file with the IRScafwd.org1611 Sycamore Ave Unit 5369, 94547-6015 · Hercules, CATax-exempt since Jan 2008Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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California Forward (ca fwd) brings people together across regions to improve government and create resilient growth statewide.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$553K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $530K a year · 16% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$553K
to officers and key staff · 17% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 17% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $798K
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$210K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
21
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 21 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.5M
Spent
$3.2M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$2.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$7.0M
FY2023$2.7M
FY2024$2.1M
FY2024$1.9M
Expenses
$3.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.2M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$4.7M
FY2023$4.8M
FY2024$3.3M
FY2024$1.6M
Net assets
$2.4M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.4M
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$3.7M
FY2023$1.6M
FY2024$376K
FY2024$770K

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jan 2008.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $2.7M Management & general 13% · $417K Fundraising 2% · $55K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

25 people listed on the 990; $553K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
(fmr Pres&ceo - Term from Board 6/30/19)
$145,529Pt VII · Sec A
Policy Director
$137,606Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary - Non Voting
$136,605Pt VII · Sec A
President & CEO - Voting
$133,381Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Ismael Herrera Thru 51924’s $184K as Executive Director - Non-Voting is at the 65th percentile of top reported officer pay among 731 $1–10M public & societal benefit nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Micah Weinberg——$303,214$287,831$269,476$133,381
Micah Weinberg Thru 6142023—$252,128————
Ismael Herrera Thru 51924$184,026$189,064————
Lavera Alexander—$187,385$167,715$139,815$130,319—
Amit Thakkar——$168,063———
Amit Thakkar Thru 81823—$160,138————
Susan Lovenburg—$126,968$99,021$150,368$149,743$136,605
Kate Gordon as of 52024$147,569—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Unites Californians to improve government and foster resilient statewide growth.

Questions for California Forward

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $2.7M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

This program builds a statewide movement, bringing people together across communities, regions and interests to improve government and create inclusive, sustainable growth for everyone. The program drives collective action to identify solutions that can be taken to scale to meet the challenges the state is facing, driven by the belief…

$2.5Mprogram expense
02

Nonpartisan Electoral and Political Process and Governance

This program works with state and county governments and with interest groups to improve the political process and the efficacy of the electoral process.

$180Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 11 funders →
Grants paid · 8 grants · $891K · 2019–2024
California Forward Action FundCA · FY2022$213,000
California Forward Action FundCA · FY2021$230,000
Helena Group FoundationCA · FY2021$100,000
California Forward Action FundCA · FY2020$172,000
Helena Group FoundationCA · FY2020$100,000
Sierra Business CouncilCA · FY2020$25,000

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$348K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Money outPt IX
$3.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.7M
Managementcol C$417K
Fundraisingcol D$55K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$210K
PeoplePt VI, VII
25
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b21
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$120K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$10K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$348K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Total revenueLn 12$2.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$590K
SavingsLn 2$801K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Other assetsLn 15$350
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$210K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 513
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$598K$1.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$821$3K
Total assetsLn 16$3.1M$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$116K$210K
Net assetsLn 32$3.0M$2.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$41K$41K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$446K$362K$82K$3K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$843K$777K$29K$37K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$10K$8K$590$499
Other employee benefitsLn 9$30K$27K$655$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$100K$88K$8K$3K
Management feesLn 11a$180K$45K$135K
Legal feesLn 11b$20K$20K
Accounting feesLn 11c$27K$7K$20K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$824K$797K$28K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$101K$101K
Office expensesLn 13$140K$68K$64K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$26K$26K
OccupancyLn 16$22K$17K$5K
TravelLn 17$62K$57K$5K$423
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$272K$259K$12K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$437$997
InsuranceLn 23$15K$9K$6K$111
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$25K$24K$672$73
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.2M$2.7M$417K$55K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $2.1M$3.3M−$1.3M$376K 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.7M$4.8M−$2.1M$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $7.0M$4.7M$2.3M$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.9M$2.9M−$935K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $2.5M$3.2M−$669K$2.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,515,467 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,797,351$2,165,589
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $740,618$348,097
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $3$1,781
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $10,469$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,548,441$2,515,467
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,800$41,100
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $664,992$1,427,718
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,472,360$1,716,076
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,140,152$3,184,894
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,408,289−$669,427
Part VI · Governance 21 of 22 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members21
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,515,467 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$120,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,045,589
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$9,975
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,165,589
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $348,097$348,097
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,781$1,781
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $348,097 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,781$2,515,467
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,184,894 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $41,100$41,100
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $361,661 · Management $81,727 · Fundraising $2,552$445,940
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $776,672 · Management $29,205 · Fundraising $36,811$842,688
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $8,450 · Management $590 · Fundraising $499$9,539
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $27,376 · Management $655 · Fundraising $1,873$29,904
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $88,141 · Management $8,409 · Fundraising $3,097$99,647
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $45,000 · Management $135,000$180,000
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $19,778$19,778
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $6,900 · Management $20,300$27,200
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $796,690 · Management $27,745$824,435
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $101,213$101,213
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $67,928 · Management $64,310 · Fundraising $7,439$139,677
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $26,088$26,088
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $16,641 · Management $5,404$22,045
IX-17 TravelPrograms $57,183 · Management $4,863 · Fundraising $423$62,469
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $258,902 · Management $11,572 · Fundraising $1,806$272,280
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $437 · Management $997$1,434
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $8,879 · Management $5,599 · Fundraising $111$14,589
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $24,123 · Management $672 · Fundraising $73$24,868
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,713,384 · Management $416,826 · Fundraising $54,684$3,184,894
Part X · Balance sheet $2,564,900 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $597,270$590,301
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,193$801,233
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,250,000$1,000,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $277,310$143,901
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $12,178$26,309
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $821$2,806
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,665$350
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,140,437$2,564,900
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $115,301$209,591
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $400$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $115,701$209,591
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $58,046$427,913
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,966,690$1,927,396
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,024,736$2,355,309
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,140,437$2,564,900
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,355,309 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,515,467
XI-2 Total expenses$3,184,894
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$669,427
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,024,736
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,355,309

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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