California Forward FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Hercules, CA501(c)(3)Public & Societal BenefitEIN 26-0566540Revenue $2.7M in FY2023

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.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.4M 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

FY2023 · 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
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 30% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 30% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.6 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
$444K
21% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 21% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
22
of 23 voting members
Looks good: 22 of 23 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.7M
-62% vs prior year
Spent
$4.8M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$1.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.7M
FY2023▼ -62%
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
$4.8M
FY2023▲ +2%
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
$1.6M
FY2023▼ -56%
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 FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $3.7M Management & general 18% · $837K Fundraising 5% · $244K

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

33 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & CEO - Voting (thru 6/14/2023)
$303,214Pt VII · Sec A
VP Public Policy
$168,063Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strategy Officer Non-Voting
$167,715Pt VII · Sec A
Interim CEO & Executive Director
$142,682Pt VII · Sec A
Controller
$127,694Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Research Analyst
$106,166Pt VII · Sec A
Director - Programs
$104,667Pt VII · Sec A
Director - Regions
$102,000Pt 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.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.7M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Economic Development, Housing, Wildfire, and Infrastructure

Cafwd partnered with regional partners and state administrators on statewide initiatives aligned with policy priority of the organization and california stewardship network.

$1.6Mprogram expense
02

Collective Action and Metrics

Ca FWD created a shared economic agenda known as the roadmap to shared prosperity that guides collective actions within its network and hosted its annual california economic summit in bakersfield. The california dream index gathered economic data to measure progress across key social and economic indicators in the state.

$1.5Mprogram expense
03

Regional Leadership Development

Cafwd partnered with the california stewardship network, an alliance of regional leaders, and continued its young leaders advisory council, and becky morgan steward leadership program.

$579Kprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$478K
Investment incomeLn 3$12K
Money outPt IX
$4.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.7M
Managementcol C$837K
Fundraisingcol D$244K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$444K
PeoplePt VI, VII
33
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a23
IndependentVI 1b22
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$10K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$478K
Investment incomeLn 3$12K
Total revenueLn 12$2.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$424K
SavingsLn 2$991K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$444K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.9M$1.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$284$0
Total assetsLn 16$4.0M$2.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$292K$444K
Net assetsLn 32$3.7M$1.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$213K$213K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$895K$656K$175K$64K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.4M$1.1M$176K$138K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$51K$40K$6K$5K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$62K$50K$5K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$157K$120K$23K$14K
Management feesLn 11a$21K$21K
Legal feesLn 11b$114K$10K$104K
Accounting feesLn 11c$34K$34K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$796K$704K$91K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$102K$97K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$158K$79K$71K$8K
Information technologyLn 14$11K$4K$8K
OccupancyLn 16$18K$12K$6K
TravelLn 17$217K$169K$47K$1K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$472K$462K$10K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$285$285
InsuranceLn 23$18K$11K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$59K$4K$55K$654
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.8M$3.7M$837K$244K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $2.1M$3.3M−$1.3M$376K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $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 $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,661,042 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,817,018$2,171,316
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,170,665$478,065
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,488$11,661
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,989,171$2,661,042
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $330,000$213,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,114,320$2,530,250
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,216,106$2,019,428
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $4,660,426$4,762,678
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,328,745−$2,101,636
Part VI · Governance 22 of 23 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body23
VI-1b Independent voting members22
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 $2,661,042 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$10,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,161,316
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,171,316
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $478,065$478,065
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $11,661$11,661
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $478,065 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $11,661$2,661,042
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,762,678 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $213,000$213,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $656,370 · Management $175,050 · Fundraising $63,890$895,310
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,050,627 · Management $175,906 · Fundraising $137,953$1,364,486
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $40,058 · Management $6,360 · Fundraising $5,002$51,420
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $49,918 · Management $5,413 · Fundraising $7,154$62,485
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $120,455 · Management $22,549 · Fundraising $13,545$156,549
IX-11a Management feesManagement $20,567$20,567
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $9,940 · Management $103,579$113,519
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $33,673$33,673
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $703,634 · Management $91,105 · Fundraising $1,698$796,437
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $97,134 · Fundraising $4,650$101,784
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $78,775 · Management $71,297 · Fundraising $8,027$158,099
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,569 · Management $7,560$11,129
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $11,980 · Management $5,533$17,513
IX-17 TravelPrograms $168,615 · Management $47,340 · Fundraising $1,396$217,351
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $462,463 · Management $9,930$472,393
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $285$285
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $11,304 · Management $6,343$17,647
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,832 · Management $54,545 · Fundraising $654$59,031
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,681,674 · Management $837,035 · Fundraising $243,969$4,762,678
Part X · Balance sheet $2,091,575 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,050,759$423,798
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,799,855$991,301
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $444,576$165,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $639,899$393,096
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $105,896$118,380
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $284$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,041,269$2,091,575
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $291,884$417,986
X-19 Deferred revenue$25,840
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $291,884$443,826
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,129,856$298,582
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,619,529$1,349,167
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,749,385$1,647,749
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,041,269$2,091,575
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,647,749 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,661,042
XI-2 Total expenses$4,762,678
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,101,636
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,749,385
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,647,749

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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