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.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.1M 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

FY2022 · 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
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.1M
to officers and key staff · 23% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 23% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.3 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
$292K
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
18
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 18 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$7.0M
+262% vs prior year
Spent
$4.7M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$3.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$7.0M
FY2022▲ +262%
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
$4.7M
FY2022▲ +63%
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
$3.7M
FY2022▲ +164%
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 FY2022 Form 990 (year ending June 2022) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2022 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

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $3.9M Management & general 12% · $552K Fundraising 5% · $242K

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; $1.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2021); the FY2022 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & CEO - Voting
$287,831Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary - Non Voting
$150,368Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strategy Officer
$139,815Pt VII · Sec A
Communications Director
$124,952Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$121,205Pt VII · Sec A
Controller
$119,213Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Research Analyst
$108,922Pt 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.

Questions for California Forward

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.9M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

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

$1.8Mprogram expense
02

California Dream for All

Housing has become the primary obstacle to livability in almost every region. High costs are pushing millions of people below the poverty line and many into homelessness. Compounding existing housing challenges, longer commutes negatively impact air quality and worker's health, while more and more employers struggle to attract and retain…

$1.3Mprogram expense
03

California stewardship network, young leaders advisory and regions rise together:we center our work in california's diverse regions with the power of the california stewardship network, an alliance of regional leaders that are focused on triple-bottom-line solutions that balance equity, environmental sustainability and economic growth.

$786Kprogram 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 FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$7.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Money outPt IX
$4.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.9M
Managementcol C$552K
Fundraisingcol D$242K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$4.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$292K
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b18
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$732K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Total revenueLn 12$7.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.1M
SavingsLn 2$1.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$284
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$4.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$292K
Net assetsLn 32$3.7M
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M$2.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1K$284
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M$4.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$858K$292K
Net assetsLn 32$1.4M$3.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$330K$330K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$612K$421K$60K$130K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$942K$217K$88K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$43K$37K$5K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$83K$71K$9K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$129K$105K$13K$11K
Management feesLn 11a$700$700
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$213$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$37K$37K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.5M$1.4M$45K$953
Advertising and promotionLn 12$101K$101K
Office expensesLn 13$124K$11K$106K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$13K$6K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$17K$17K
TravelLn 17$78K$59K$19K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$366K$362K$4K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$15K$9K$5K$592
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$7K$3K$4K$468
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.7M$3.9M$552K$242K

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 Viewing $7.0M$4.7M$2.3M$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $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 R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,989,171 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,629,420$4,817,018
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $297,837$2,170,665
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,411$1,488
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,928,668$6,989,171
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $297,100$330,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,697,694$2,114,320
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $868,543$2,216,106
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,863,337$4,660,426
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$934,669$2,328,745
Part VI · Governance 18 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members18
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 $6,989,171 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$731,923
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,085,095
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,817,018
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,170,665$2,170,665
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,488$1,488
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,170,665 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,488$6,989,171
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,660,426 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $330,000$330,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $421,472 · Management $60,390 · Fundraising $130,054$611,916
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $941,961 · Management $217,178 · Fundraising $87,762$1,246,901
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $37,238 · Management $4,648 · Fundraising $1,516$43,402
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $70,920 · Management $9,034 · Fundraising $2,926$82,880
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $105,447 · Management $12,568 · Fundraising $11,206$129,221
IX-11a Management feesManagement $700$700
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $213 · Management $3,292$3,505
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $36,719$36,719
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,408,192 · Management $45,335 · Fundraising $953$1,454,480
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $100,749$100,749
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $11,336 · Management $105,568 · Fundraising $6,710$123,614
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $6,377 · Management $6,621$12,998
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $16,848$16,848
IX-17 TravelPrograms $58,934 · Management $18,637$77,571
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $361,718 · Management $3,963$365,681
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $1,140$1,140
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $8,905 · Management $5,238 · Fundraising $592$14,735
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,793 · Management $4,105 · Fundraising $468$7,366
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,866,255 · Management $551,984 · Fundraising $242,187$4,660,426
Part X · Balance sheet $4,041,269 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $368,827$1,050,759
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $800,672$1,799,855
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $946,924$444,576
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $133,497$639,899
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $27,067$105,896
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,424$284
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $350$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,278,761$4,041,269
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $339,643$291,884
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $518,478$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $858,121$291,884
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $112,077$1,129,856
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,308,563$2,619,529
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,420,640$3,749,385
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,278,761$4,041,269
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,749,385 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,989,171
XI-2 Total expenses$4,660,426
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,328,745
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,420,640
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,749,385

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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