California Forward FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Hercules, CA501(c)(3)Public & Societal BenefitEIN 26-0566540Revenue $1.9M in FY2021

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.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$797K 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

FY2021 · 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
75%
of spending
Looks good: 75% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$797K
to officers and key staff · 28% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 28% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.9 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
$858K
38% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 38% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 21 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 21 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.9M
-23% vs prior year
Spent
$2.9M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$1.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.9M
FY2021▼ -23%
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
$2.9M
FY2021▼ -10%
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
$1.4M
FY2021▼ -40%
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 FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $2.2M Management & general 16% · $450K Fundraising 9% · $254K

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

29 people listed on the 990; $797K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & CEO - Voting
$269,476Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary - Non Voting
$149,743Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strategy Officer
$130,319Pt VII · Sec A
Policy Director
$129,456Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$118,164Pt 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.

See California Forward executive salaries →

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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.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.2M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

California economic summit, the california dream index, a deliberative poll and the strong workforce program:ca FWD organized work groups and regional collaborations that culminated in the california economic summit, continuing the comprehensive roadmap to shared prosperity.

$2.0Mprogram expense
02

California Stewardship Network

The backbone for an alliance of regional leaders that are focused on triple-bottom-line solutions that balance equity, environmental sustainability and economic growth. Ca FWD is committed to elevating the next generation of diverse and empowered leaders through the becky morgan steward leadership program and our young leaders advisory…

$87Kprogram expense
03

Justice System Change Initiative

Ca FWD partnered with merced county, where a detailed analysis of the jail population has informed and inspired a number of initiatives to improve services to reduced unnecessary incarceration and recidivism.

$22Kprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$298K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Money outPt IX
$2.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.2M
Managementcol C$450K
Fundraisingcol D$254K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$858K
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a21
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$237K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$298K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Total revenueLn 12$1.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$369K
SavingsLn 2$801K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1K
Other assetsLn 15$350
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$858K
Net assetsLn 32$1.4M
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M$1.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K$1K
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$210K$858K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M$1.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$297K$297K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$640K$348K$101K$191K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$876K$719K$112K$45K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$16K$12K$2K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$63K$52K$9K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$103K$72K$16K$14K
Management feesLn 11a$108K$27K$81K
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$28K$28K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$365K$355K$10K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$149K$149K
Office expensesLn 13$115K$52K$63K
Information technologyLn 14$10K$3K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$18K$15K$3K
TravelLn 17$3K$2K$1K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$46K$46K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$17K$10K$6K$691
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2K$121$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.9M$2.2M$450K$254K

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 Viewing $1.9M$2.9M−$935K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,928,668 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,165,589$1,629,420
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $348,097$297,837
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,781$1,411
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,515,467$1,928,668
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $41,100$297,100
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,427,718$1,697,694
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,716,076$868,543
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,184,894$2,863,337
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$669,427−$934,669
Part VI · Governance 20 of 21 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body21
VI-1b Independent voting members20
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 $1,928,668 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$236,924
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,392,496
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,629,420
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $297,837$297,837
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,411$1,411
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $297,837 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,411$1,928,668
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,863,337 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $297,100$297,100
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $347,950 · Management $100,855 · Fundraising $191,370$640,175
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $719,161 · Management $111,719 · Fundraising $44,814$875,694
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $12,082 · Management $2,461 · Fundraising $1,741$16,284
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $51,900 · Management $9,441 · Fundraising $1,372$62,713
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $71,995 · Management $16,380 · Fundraising $14,453$102,828
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $27,000 · Management $81,000$108,000
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $6,075$6,075
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $28,299$28,299
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $355,318 · Management $9,556$364,874
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $149,077$149,077
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $51,941 · Management $63,118$115,059
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $2,808 · Management $7,009$9,817
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $14,822 · Management $3,468$18,290
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,713 · Management $1,298$3,011
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $45,741$45,741
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $1,382$1,382
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $10,470 · Management $5,963 · Fundraising $691$17,124
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $121 · Management $1,673$1,794
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,159,199 · Management $449,697 · Fundraising $254,441$2,863,337
Part X · Balance sheet $2,278,761 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $590,301$368,827
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $801,233$800,672
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,000,000$946,924
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $143,901$133,497
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $26,309$27,067
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,806$1,424
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $350$350
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,564,900$2,278,761
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $209,591$339,643
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$518,478
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $209,591$858,121
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $427,913$112,077
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,927,396$1,308,563
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,355,309$1,420,640
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,564,900$2,278,761
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,420,640 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,928,668
XI-2 Total expenses$2,863,337
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$934,669
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,355,309
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,420,640

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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