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.
Key facts about Center for Community Change
- EIN
- 52-0888113
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,490,482
- Grants made (2024)
- 35
- Average grant
- $71,157
- Median grant
- $40,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (17 of 35, 2024)
- Total assets
- $36,183,081
- Primary geography
- New York (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Center for Community Change funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Center for Community Change's 35 itemized 2024 grants were New York (45%), District of Columbia (21%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants), Chicago, IL (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants). None of its 35 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Special Projects" (13 grants), "Infrastructure Campaigns" (4 grants) and "Childcare" (3 grants).
Is Center for Community Change open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 35 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $91K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $40K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Center for Community Change
- How to evaluate Center for Community Change as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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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.
Ready to take the next step with Center for Community Change?
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
Share of all 35 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
336 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Cornell University ($700,000), Voices of Community Activists & Leaders Inc ($200,800), Washington Center for Equitable Growth ($169,182).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY Ithaca, NY | HEALTH EQUITY PROJECT | $700,000 |
| VOICES OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS & LEADERS INC Brooklyn, NY | SPECIAL PROJECTS | $200,800 |
| WASHINGTON CENTER FOR EQUITABLE GROWTH Washington, DC | SPECIAL PROJECTS | $169,182 |
| NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW PROJECT New York, NY | SPECIAL PROJECTS | $142,500 |
| PROJECT HOPE-THE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE HEALTH FOUNDATIO Washington, DC | CHICAGO MIGRANT PROJECT | $140,500 |
| FUSION PARTNERSHIPS INC Baltimore, MD | HEALTH EQUITY PROJECT, CHILDCARE, INFRASTRUCTURE CAMPAIGNS | $120,000 |
| WASHINGTON INTERFAITH NETWORK (WIN) Washington, DC | INFRASTRUCTURE CAMPAIGNS | $100,000 |
| COLORADO CROSS-DISABILITY COALITION Denver, CO | JUST RECOVERY, CROSS-MOVEMENT CONVENING | $100,000 |
| VIRGINIA ORGANIZING INC Charlottesville, VA | INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT, CHILDCARE, | $60,000 |
| SOMOS UN PUEBLO UNIDO Sante Fe, NM | CHANGE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH EQUITY PROJECT, GUARANTEED INCOME | $50,000 |
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 IRS 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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Center for Community Change fund?
**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 Engagemen…
How do I apply for a grant from Center for Community Change?
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. **2023 Grantmaking Activity:** • Total giving: $2,558,713
Where does Center for Community Change make 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.
What size grants does Center for Community Change award?
In 2024, Center for Community Change awarded 35 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $71K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Center for Community Change's EIN?
Center for Community Change's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-0888113. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.