Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation logo

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation

Public charity · Grantmaker Oakland, CA EIN: 84-3885205 Website

The mission of the black cultural zone cdc is to unapologetically center black arts, culture, and economics as we collectively design, resource, transform, and build collective power for our communities.

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation at a glance

In short: Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation gave $1.6M across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $818K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,635,060
+121.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
2
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$817,530
+121.1% vs 2024
Median grant
$817,530
Total assets
$26,217,079
+165.5% vs 2024
Primary geography
California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2025

Liberation Park Market Hall: $1.1MLiberation Park Market Hall$1.1MLiberation Park Residences LP: $510KLiberation Park Residences LP$510K

The largest 2025 recipient was Liberation Park Market Hall ($1.1M). Together the top 2 received $1.6M.

Grant Size Distribution

9 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K1$250–500K2$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 9 (33%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

States

Cities

San FranciscoOakland

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M0 grants2020 1 grant2021 0 grants2022 4 grants2023 2 grants2024 2 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $180K (2021) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $1.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Liberation Park Market Hall San Francisco, CAReal Estate Development$1,125,060
Liberation Park Residences LP San Francisco, CAReal Estate Development$510,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$26,217,079$20,142,008$9,100,366$1,635,0602$323,134
2024$9,876,405$10,037,705$5,287,066$739,5002$17,693
2023$3,402,069$4,746,277$4,496,383$628,0004—
2022$2,867,031$4,547,731$2,673,442———
2021$1,175,984$2,134,484$1,683,206$180,0001$-2,419
2020$411,199$536,500$125,301———

About Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation

Based on IRS filings

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Oakland, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $26.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $1.6M. Net investment income was $323K.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation is led by Carolyn Johnson, CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Carolyn Johnson

    CEO

    President → CEO, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $37K (2021) → $300K (2025)

  • Derek Fletcher

    Director of Strategic Initiatives

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $116K (2025)

  • Lanetha Oliver

    COO

    Director → COO, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $157K (2024) → $190K (2025)

  • Michael Gaston

    CFO

    Treasurer → Board Treasurer, 2024

    Board Treasurer → CFO, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $12K (2024) → $15K (2025)

  • Ari Curry

    Associate Manager

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $101K (2025)

  • Nina Woodruff

    Deputy CEO

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $7K (2025)

  • Regina Davis

    Deputy CEO

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $25K (2025)

  • Bernida Reagan

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • George McDaniel

    Board Co-Chair

    Director → Board Co-Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Damien McDuffie

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Howard Oliver

    Board Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Board Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Janine Nixon

    Board Co-Chair

    Board Member → Board Co-Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amanda Elliot

    Board Treasurer

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Creighton Davis

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jonathan Taylor

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (8)
  • Former: Crystal Matson (2020–2024) — Board Chair
  • Former: Ahmed Ali Bob (2021–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Larissa Estes White (2023–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Nina Woodruff-Walker (2023–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Aja Rice (2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Miekael Menberu (2024) — Board Co-Chair
  • Former: Greg Bridges (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Linda Grant (2020) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Carolyn Johnson — CEO: $300KCarolyn JohnsonCEO$300KLanetha Oliver — COO: $190KLanetha OliverCOO$190KDerek Fletcher — Director of Strategic Initiatives: $116KDerek FletcherDirector of Strategic…$116KAri Curry — Associate Manager: $101KAri CurryAssociate Manager$101KRegina Davis — Deputy CEO: $25KRegina DavisDeputy CEO$25KMichael Gaston — CFO: $15KMichael GastonCFO$15KNina Woodruff — Deputy CEO: $7KNina WoodruffDeputy CEO$7K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $300K, to Carolyn Johnson (CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation

How much does Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation give each year?

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation gave $1.6M across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $740K across 2 grants.

How large is Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation?

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation reported $26.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.1M.

What is Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation?

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Oakland, CA. It holds $26.2M in total assets as of 2025.

Where does Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation operate?

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation has awarded grants in California.

What is Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation's EIN?

Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3885205. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(5)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 29, 2024)
  4. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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