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Catalyst California
Also known as Fka Advancement Project
Catalyst California reported $10.7 million in revenue and $10.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.81 went to program services, $14.71 to management and general costs and $10.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 91.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $379,889 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 32% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $10.0MFor context, the median across 190 covered public & societal benefit charities: $88.97 programs, $11.02 management, $0.01 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.8% | 85.0% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.7% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 10.5% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 91.8% | 84.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 7.1% | 3.1% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $379,889 | $358,596 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.81% | 1.53% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 11 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 11.6 | 10.7 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 13 | 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
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEducational equitythe educational equity program works to transform the birth to 12th grade (b-12) system to uplift whole-child, whole-family educational opportunities for children of color from historically underserved communities. We strive to catalyze action that dismantles the systemic barriers that perpetuate dispartities in our communities
Equity in community investmentswe partner with communities of color to equip them with the budget and advocacy tools necessary to win sustainable investments that help all californians thrive. Through budget and policy analysis, trainings, and campaign support, we dismantle the legacy of public disinvestment and criminalization that has created race-based disparities in our communities' health and well-being
Political voicepolitical voice works to make state and local governments more participatory and representative of the communities they serve. Our goal is that all community members are able to genuinely participate in the making of effective public policy, in ways that go beyond just voting, and that governments respond equitably to community concerns. To accomplish this goal, we advocate for racially and economically just democracy reforms
Highest reported compensation
2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT/CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $332,932 | $0 | $46,957 | $379,889 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $234,689 | $0 | $24,714 | $259,403 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $208,816 | $0 | $25,141 | $233,957 |
| V.P. OF POLICY AND PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $165,225 | $0 | $34,988 | $200,213 |
| V.P. OF POLICY AND PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $159,199 | $0 | $36,989 | $196,188 |
| V.P. OF POLICY AND PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $170,903 | $0 | $7,824 | $178,727 |
| FOUNDING CO-DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 25.00 hrs/week | $135,136 | $0 | $28,243 | $163,379 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Catalyst California (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $619K (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · 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–1b13 · 12 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 551
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE Bold vision youth council council (bvyc) | $166,737 |
| NINE OAKS CONSULTING LLC Support for wrca & internal communicatio | $153,509 |
| JADE STRATEGY CONSULTANTS Bold vision youth council support | $122,801 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
16 private foundations reported grants to Catalyst California totaling $2.7M 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 Catalyst California's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Catalyst California, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Catalyst California spent in 2025, $74.81 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Southeast Rural Community Assistance ProjectRoanoke, VA · revenue $11M · programs 92.0% · FY2025
- Institute for War & Peace Reporting-UsWashington, DC · revenue $11M · programs 80.1% · 2024
- Virtus Academy of South CarolinaFlorence, SC · revenue $10M · programs 66.0% · FY2025
- Griffiss Utility Services CorporationRome, NY · revenue $11M · programs 89.3% · 2024
- Committee for a Responsible Federal BudgetWashington, DC · revenue $10M · programs 87.1% · 2025
All public & societal benefit charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Catalyst California's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Catalyst California reported that 74.8% of its $10.0 million in expenses went to program services, 14.7% to management and general and 10.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Catalyst California pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Catalyst California reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $379,889, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Catalyst California get its money?
Of $10.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 91.8% came from contributions and grants and 7.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Catalyst California a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 95-4835230 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202602469349301560 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202502599349301650 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202402979349300335 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202333179349312078 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202223149349305897 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202143149349303389 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013219349306491 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 95-4835230: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.