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Top Rated

Center for Community Change

CharityWatch report issued
October 2021

Top-Rated Charity
A
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
79%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$3
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

Center for Community Change
1536 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Other Names

None

Tax Status

501(c)3

Stated Mission

To build the power and capacity of low-income people, especially low-income people of color, to change their communities and public policies for the better.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 09/30/2020

Program Percentage: 79%

The percentage of Center for Community Change's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$22,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $3

How many dollars Center for Community Change spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$53,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Center for Community Change & Fund for the Center for Community Change Audited Combined Financial Statements Multiple
Center for Community Change IRS Form 990 52-0888113
Entity: Center for Community Change & Fund for the Center for Community Change
Document Type: Audited Combined Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple
Entity: Center for Community Change
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 52-0888113

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Center for Community Change
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Center for Community Change
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Dorian Warren President/VP $254,261
2 Mary Lassen Past Managing Director $226,977
3 Ryan Young Chief Operating & Financial Officer $203,158
1
Name: Dorian Warren
Title: President/VP
Compensation: $254,261
2
Name: Mary Lassen
Title: Past Managing Director
Compensation: $226,977
3
Name: Ryan Young
Title: Chief Operating & Financial Officer
Compensation: $203,158

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of Center for Community Change is for the 501(c)(3) public charity entity (tax ID #52-0888113).

CharityWatch provides a separate rating for Center for Community Change Actionthe related 501(c)(4) tax-exempt, social welfare organization (tax ID #27-0061100).

CharityWatch separates the ratings for 501(c)(3) & 501(c)(4) organizations, even when their financial activities are included together in a combined or consolidated audit, due to their differing treatments under the IRS tax code. For more information on this topic, please see our sections on Types of Non-Profits, Tax Status, and Treatment of Related Organizations, which can be found on the Our Process page. For more information about things to consider when donating to organizations that have related public charity and social welfare entities, read "Sorting Out Nonprofit Pairs" in the Articles & Alerts section, below.



According to the Center for Community Change (CCC) combined audit of September 30, 2020 (Note 10, Related Party):

"The Center for Community Change Action ('CCCA') is a related, tax-exempt organization (under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code), whose purpose is to increase the profile of policy issues that matter to low-income people and people of color, as well as educate and empower low-income people and people of color to act on those issues.

"CCCA and the Organization [CCC and the Fund for the Center for Community Change] share office space and an Executive Director; however, the criteria for financial combination (significant influence/control and economic interest) have not been met; therefore, the financial activities of the organizations are not combined [in the audited financial statements].

"CCCA reimburses the Organization for salaries and other administrative costs. The Organization pays CCCA for its ratable share of office space...and reimburses CCCA for program expenses paid on the Organization's behalf."

[...]

"During the years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, CCCA granted CCC $100,000 and $0, respectively. CCC did not make any grants to CCCA in either years."

According to the Center for Community Change combined audit of September 30, 2020 (Note 1 re: Risks and uncertainties):

"The Organization invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rates, market and credit risks.

"Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the accompanying [audited] combined financial statements."


According to the Center for Community Change combined audit of September 30, 2020 (Note 1 re: Economic uncertainties):

"On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic. As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen which may negatively impact the Organization's operations. The overall potential impact is unknown at this time."

According to the Center for Community Change tax filing for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, the Center reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"Lorella Praeli and Katherin[e] Kahan received bonuses of $5,000 and $2,500, respectively."


Lorella Praeli is reported as Vice President, with total compensation of $79,252 in calendar year 2019 (IRS Form 990, Part VII, Section A). Katherine Kahan is reported as "Dir. of Leg. & Advocacy Affairs," with total compensation of $171,545 in calendar year 2019 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part II).