The Community Firm
Also known as Community Economic Defense Project
The Community Firm reported $102.2 million in revenue and $99.6 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $97.24 went to program services, $2.76 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.5% of the total. Government grants made up 97.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $232,861 (CO-FOUNDER/CO-CEO). 14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 441% between 2021 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $100MFor context, the median across 274 covered crime & legal-related charities: $87.85 programs, $11.30 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $102MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 97.2% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.8% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.5% | 94.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 97.2% | 50.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $232,861 | $245,814 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.23% | 1.41% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 14 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.1 | 6.4 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 7 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseIntegrated financial assistance and household stability services: the organization offers a fund that provides emergency rental assistance to renters facing eviction or displacement. In partnership with state and local government emergency assistance programs, cedp qualifies renters facing eviction and displacement for benefits, and it issues quick, accurate financial assistance checks. Its emergency rental assistance program is designed to move faster than the eviction time line, with capabilities to qualify tenants for benefits and issue payments in less than 24 hours when needed to…
In 2023, we launched a new program to expand the stabilizing services we offer to the community. Housing is a human right, and the loss of a home can lead to cycles of poverty that are exceedingly difficult to recover from. We are able to provide mortgage assistance for clients who are behind on payments based on the individual circumstances of each. Our team of caring navigators and lawyers are passionately committed to keeping our clients in their homes
Legal aid: through ced law, the organization offers legal assistance to renters facing eviction in the state of colorado. Managed separately from the financial assistance and household stability services program, ced law provides legal assistance to coloradans facing eviction or struggling with consumer and housing debt burdens. Depending on client need, attorneys provide advice, limited assistance representation, or full-service legal representation. Ced law also manages legal aid clinics alongside community partners and in courthouses across the state
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO-FOUNDER/CO-CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $189,428 | $0 | $43,433 | $232,861 |
| CO-FOUNDER/CO-CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $189,377 | $0 | $42,499 | $231,876 |
| Chief Program Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $133,220 | $0 | $29,019 | $162,239 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $141,926 | $0 | $20,102 | $162,028 |
| Chief Legal Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $127,124 | $0 | $18,864 | $145,988 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $116,546 | $0 | $14,053 | $130,599 |
| Vice President of Housing and Supportive Services Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $119,085 | $0 | $6,011 | $125,096 |
| Vice President of Program Operations Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $119,446 | $0 | $2,389 | $121,835 |
14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Community Firm (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $627K (Part IX, line 5).
5 filings since FY2020 (10 mo.)
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b7 · 5 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5211
- Volunteers Part I, line 65
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to The Community Firm totaling $750K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Community Firm's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Community Firm, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Community Firm spent in 2024, $97.24 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Nexus Family HealingPlymouth, MN · revenue $99M · programs 80.8% · 2024
- American Bar Association Fund for Justice and EducationChicago, IL · revenue $102M · programs 79.8% · FY2025
- Community Resources for JusticeBoston, MA · revenue $95M · programs 87.1% · FY2025
- National Center for State CourtsWilliamsburg, VA · revenue $104M · programs 88.7% · 2024
- Children's Advocacy Centers of TexasAustin, TX · revenue $86M · programs 97.1% · FY2025
All crime & legal-related charities · Largest charities in Colorado
Questions people ask
How much of The Community Firm's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Community Firm reported that 97.2% of its $99.6 million in expenses went to program services, 2.8% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Community Firm pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Community Firm reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $232,861, for the role of CO-FOUNDER/CO-CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Community Firm get its money?
Of $102.2 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 99.5% came from contributions and grants (including 97.2% from government grants) and 0.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Community Firm a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-4867019 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202513189349314171 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443209349319754 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343179349308759 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349307453 · read the filing
- FY2020 (10 mo.): Form 990 for the 10-month short period ending December 31, 2020, object 202101339349302240 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-4867019: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.