Center for Community Change
Center for Community Change (also known as Community Change) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1968 in response to civil rights concerns and to honor Robert F. Kennedy, the organization is a progressive community organizing group that works to build power among low-income communities, particularly communities of color, to create systemic change in policies and institutions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36.2M
+40.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
-28.9% YoY
Grant Count
35
-31.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$71K
+3.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To build the power and capacity of low-income people, especially low-income people of color, to change the policies and institutions that impact their lives.
The organization's work encompasses several core program areas:
- Community Organizing: Partnering with community groups to reimagine and co-create new models of organizing that achieve scale and sustainability in low-income communities of color while maintaining relationship-based organizing principles
- Civic Engagement: Building grassroots capacity for lasting civic engagement in communities of color and strengthening Black, Brown, and immigrant organizing infrastructure
- Policy & Advocacy: Generating ideas to advance economic, racial, and immigrant justice and building power to implement them locally and nationally
- Leadership Development: Supporting social justice fellowships and other forms of leadership development
- Strategic Communications & Digital Media: Supporting core strategies through communications and digital media work
- Capacity Building: Providing technical assistance and key bodies of work to strengthen organizational capacities
Grantmaking
Center for Community Change functions as both a grantmaker and grant recipient. As a grantmaker, the organization provides grants with typical award ranges of $6,500 to $700,000, with a focus on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization's grantmaking priorities include the District of Columbia, New York, and Illinois. Community Change operates nationally, with community organizing and civic engagement work concentrated in low-income areas across the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $26,319,348
- Total Expenses: $33,544,558
- Total Assets: $25,690,854
- Total Liabilities: $2,130,000
Organizational Scale:
- Approximately 137 employees (as of 2023)
Rating: Center for Community Change holds a Four-Star rating with a 97% overall score based on Accountability & Finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,183,081 | $25,690,854 | $32,237,987 |
| Revenue | $43,589,433 | $26,319,348 | $16,049,111 |
| Expenses | $33,890,993 | $33,544,558 | $29,659,989 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $102,065 | $12,820 | $86,588 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
235 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dorian Warren – Co-President
- Lorella Praeli – Co-President
- Deepak Bhargava – Executive Director (noted in sources)
Additional key staff include:
- Grecia Lima – National Political Director
- Simon Lau – Director, Technology
- Mary Lassen – Managing Director
- Mikka Kei Macdonald – Creative Director
- Irma Palacios – Deputy Director
- Jennifer Wells – EJ Team Director
- Kim Huckabone – Human Resources Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LORELLA PRAELI | CO-PRESIDENT (SEE SCHED O) | 33.5 | $278,976 |
| DORIAN WARREN | CO-PRESIDENT (SEE SCHED O) | 33 | $252,619 |
| SHERECE WEST-SCANTLEBURY | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JUDY PATRICK | VICE-CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JULIA TAYLOR KENNEDY | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| BECKY WASSERMAN | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| MUNEER AHMAD | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ARLENE HOLT BAKER | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ROXANNE BROWN | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JAMES CADOGAN | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| PAULINA GONZALEZ-BRITO | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| CHRISTINA M GREER | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| CRYSTAL HAYLING | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| DONNA KATZIN | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| DANIEL LEE | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| RENAY LOPER | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JAMILA MICHENER | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| KIISHA MORROW | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| REV ROBIN TANNER | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| DIANNE YAMASHIRO-OMI | MEMBER | 2 | — |
| RYAN YOUNG | CFO/COO ( SEE SCHED O) | 27 | $180,230 |
| JULIA FOSTER | CHIEF OF STAFF | 35 | $219,242 |
| JEFF PARCHER | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS | 32 | $160,314 |
| JENNIFER WELLS | DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE | 34.5 | $168,128 |
| IRMA RIVERA | DIR OF FIN REPORTING & COMPLIANCE | 26 | $187,799 |
| JOHN POMERANZ | GENERAL COUNSEL | 30.5 | $172,417 |
| SETH BORGOS | STRAT ADV ON LEARNING & STRAT DEV | 35 | $198,700 |
| ALICE RANDALL | DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & CULTURE | 35 | $198,190 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The organization has been involved in EPA Community Change Grants, which represent a broader federal initiative. Community Change and its sister organization, Community Change Action, continue to work on building power from the ground up with a stated 15-year plan to dramatically improve material conditions for people struggling to make ends meet in the United States.
Community Change Grants Selections | US EPAThe organization emphasizes fusing three dimensions of power: organized people, bold ideas, and political clout, with the goal of creating an economy and democracy where everyone can thrive.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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