THE OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTE Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

THE OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTE

EIN 47-3888926 · Human Service Organizations (P20)

What they do

THE OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTE is A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES SOCIAL MOBILITY and EQUITY BY IMPROVING OUTCOMES FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH EARLY CAREER. WE FOCUS ON EDUCATION, WHICH PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN OPENING OPPORTUNITIES, and THE RELATED SOCIAL POLICIES THAT MAKE TRUE OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $88.50 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2023The report may be old. Ask for a newer one.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders13 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

93.87%of revenue went to mission work88.5% of expenses · Program services

0.56%of revenue went to fundraising0.5% of expenses

$106.05spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

11.62%of revenue went to management and office costs11.0% of expenses

$0.14in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

100.0%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $46,930 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $208,331 for MARIA ECHAVESTE (PRESIDENT/CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2023

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$775,795

Mission workProgram services$728,24093.87% of revenue88.5% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$90,15911.62% of revenue11.0% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$4,3260.56% of revenue0.5% of expenses

Total expenses$822,725106.05% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2023CurrentExpense mix: 88.5% mission · 11.0% management · 0.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 106.05% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 61.3% mission · 32.3% management · 6.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 403.38% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 77.5% mission · 17.5% management · 5.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 157.07% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 75.3% mission · 22.1% management · 2.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 68.04% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 86.6% mission · 10.7% management · 2.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 311.69% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 78.0% mission · 14.9% management · 7.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 102.16% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 91.3% mission · 7.0% management · 1.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 77.07% of revenue

2015Expense mix: 89.3% mission · 9.2% management · 1.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 41.84% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$775,795

Expenses$822,725

Annual shortfall $46,930 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$728,240 · 88.5% of expenses

Management and office costs$90,159 · 11.0% of expenses

Fundraising$4,326 · 0.5% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$775,795

Expenses$822,725

Assets$113,814

Income$775,795

Contributions$775,600

Mission work (program services)$728,240

Fundraising$4,326

Grants given$819,070

Average grant$68,256

Management and general$90,159

Executive compensation (total)$401,639

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2023

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

MARIA ECHAVESTEPRESIDENT/CEO · 40 hrs/week $208,331Base $196,539 · Other $11,792

GUY JOHNSONPROGRAM OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $177,428Base $149,967 · Other $27,461

WINSOME WAITEPROGRAM OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $174,674Base $145,475 · Other $29,199

CYNTHIA PALMERINDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS · 40 hrs/week $129,178Base $113,147 · Other $16,031

CHIARA PARISIPROGRAM ANALYST · 40 hrs/week $118,825Base $104,740 · Other $14,085

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (13)

MARIA ECHAVESTEPRESIDENT/CEO

GUY JOHNSONPROGRAM OFFICER

WINSOME WAITEPROGRAM OFFICER

CYNTHIA PALMERINDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

CHIARA PARISIPROGRAM ANALYST

ARNOLD SOWELLDIRECTOR

BILL RICHARDSONDIRECTOR

CHRISTOPHER EDLEY JRCO-FOUNDER/PRESIDENT EMERI

LAURA DANDREA TYSONCHAIR

MARK G YUDOFDIRECTOR

ROBERT REICHDIRECTOR

ROBERT SHIREMANDIRECTOR

THOMAS SAENZSECRETARY

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2015
Location: 1400 SHATTUCK AVE STE 12 PMB 136, BERKELEY, CA 94709-1474
County: Alameda
In care of: % JAMES T MCLEAN
Primary officer: MARIA ECHAVESTE, PRESIDENT & CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@theopportunityinstitute.org Phone(510) 679-1004

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2023
Tax period began: July 1, 2023
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: KARLSSON & LANE AN ACCOUNTANCY CORP
NTEE classification: Human Service Organizations (P20)
IRS tax category: Human Service Organizations
Grant-giving organization: Yes