EMPOWER INITIATIVE
Cite this
Plain text EMPOWER INITIATIVE. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2013–2015. https://furp.org/org/empower-initiative-452402944. Retrieved 2026-11-01.
APA furp.org. (n.d.). EMPOWER INITIATIVE [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2013–2015]. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/empower-initiative-452402944
MLA “EMPOWER INITIATIVE.” furp.org, tax years 2013–2015, https://furp.org/org/empower-initiative-452402944. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-11-01; covers tax years 2013–2015. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.
2015 · Form 990 · revenue $251K · expenses $354K · assets $132K
- EIN
- 45-2402944
- Address
- 100 GRAND AVE APT 1409, OAKLAND, CA 94612-3085
- Website
- www.shine-some-light.org
- NTEE code
- W70
- Exempt type
- 501(c)(3): charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary (corporation)
- Ruling date
- July 2026 (when the IRS recognized its exemption)
- IRS status
- Exempt: reinstated July 15, 2019 after an automatic revocation on July 15, 2019 IRS data ↗
- Tax-deductible donations
- Yes: listed in IRS Publication 78 (public charity) Pub 78 ↗
- Foundation status
- Public charity supported by the public (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
The mission of shine some light, Inc is to provide humanitarian aid to the poor and needy in the united states and abroad though mobilizing local human and financial resources for projects that contribute to eradicating poverty
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
1 person paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Cody | CEO, Director, Board Chair | 2013-2015 | $120,083 | $249,809 | 1 |
Officers and directors, no compensation reported
2 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Searles | Secretary | 2013-2015 | 3 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Dennis Owen | Treasurer | 2013-2015 | 3 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2015 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $120K · 1 employee · 100 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Cody | CEO, Director, Board Chair | 40 | $120,083 | $0 | $0 | $120,083 | 1 |
| Dean Searles | Secretary | 3 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Dennis Owen | Treasurer | 3 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
2013 · 3 people listed · 1 paid, $130K · 1 employee · 100 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM CODY | CEO, DIRECTOR, BOARD CHAIR | 40 | $110,200 | $0 | $19,526 | $129,726 | 1 |
| DEAN SEARLES | SECRETARY | 3 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| DENNIS OWEN | TREASURER | 3 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
No independent contractors reported.
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $251,286 | $353,776 | $132,082 | $130,243 | $250,081 | $0 | $120,083 | 1 | 100 |
| 2013 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $222,353 | $360,783 | $265,667 | $265,380 | $207,920 | $0 | $110,200 | 1 | 100 |
Connected to
Organizations that list some of the same people on their returns (officers, directors, key employees on this organization’s latest return), and related organizations it lists on Schedule R.
- THE VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAN RAMON VALLEY Danville, CA · related organization (Schedule R)
Funders of this organization
11 grantors reported grants to this organization, $12,898,502 in all, tax years 2014 to 2024. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAITH IN ACTION NETWORK | Public charity | Exact | 2020 | 1 | $6,794,752 | 2020 | $6,794,752 | show |
| SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2022-2023 | 2 | $5,000,000 | 2023 | $2,500,000 | show |
| THE CALIFORNIA WELLNESS FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “EMPOWER INITIATIVE” | 2022 | 1 | $400,000 | 2022 | $400,000 | show |
| EAST BAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2024 | 1 | $325,000 | 2024 | $325,000 | show |
| THE HEARTHLAND FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “EMPOWER INITIATIVE” | 2024 | 1 | $150,000 | 2024 | $150,000 | show |
| PICO CALIFORNIA | Public charity | Exact | 2023 | 1 | $96,250 | 2023 | $96,250 | show |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND INC | Public charity | Exact | 2020 | 1 | $50,000 | 2020 | $50,000 | show |
| WEINGART FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “EMPOWER INITIATIVE” | 2020-2021 | 2 | $37,500 | 2021 | $12,500 | show |
| MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2020-2022 | 3 | $30,000 | 2022 | $10,000 | show |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER BUFFALO INC | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2016 | 1 | $10,000 | 2016 | $10,000 | show |
| DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING | DAF sponsor | Exact | 2014 | 1 | $5,000 | 2014 | $5,000 | show |
Nearby + Similar BETA
Organizations like this one: what they do and who they are linked to
Same category: NTEE code and revenue
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMPOWERTHEM COLLECTIVE | CA | W70 | $500,000 | $500,000 | Executive Director | $140,000 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN FOR INDIAN NATIONS | CA | W70 | $248,732 | $232,640 | Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| LEADERS2GIVE INC | CA | W70 | $216,179 | $237,032 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| LATINO LITERACY NOW | CA | W70 | $424,979 | $397,129 | BOARD CHAIR | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| ENLISTED LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION | CA | W70 | $294,976 | $343,869 | Director | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| SHARP CIRCLE INC | CA | W70 | $171,508 | $117,921 | Executive Director | $38,265 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| WOMEN OF COLOR ON THE MOVE | CA | W70 | $227,750 | $226,800 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| URBANPROMISE LOS ANGELES INC | CA | W70 | $305,527 | $358,078 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $75,600 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| EQUITY ENGINE | CA | W70 | $255,000 | $252,276 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| FAMILIAS EN ACCION | CA | W70 | $244,772 | $161,611 | Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| DREAM BIG DARLING | CA | W70 | $175,351 | $235,182 | President & CEO | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| WOMEN OF COLOR ROAR MEDIA | CA | W70 | $177,842 | $218,581 | PRESIDENT | $85,000 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| VENTURA COUNTY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY INC | CA | W70 | $258,726 | $208,244 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $136,277 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| CONNECTED TO LEAD | CA | W70 | $488,923 | $403,423 | Executive Director | $77,143 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| THE CENTER FOR ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN WOMEN | CA | W70 | $248,386 | $459,966 | DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| SEARCH INSIDE YOURSELF LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | CA | W70 | $479,883 | $551,718 | Executive Director | $117,700 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| HUMANBULB | CA | W70 | $196,280 | $197,505 | CEO | $44,950 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| BIG SMILES | CA | W70 | $134,594 | $91,188 | Assistant | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| GREENLIGHT GIVING FOUNDATION | CA | W70 | $316,441 | $196,352 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x, same state |
| AIMHIGH EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE INC | NY | W70 | $388,740 | $332,931 | Treasurer | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x |
| FIVE FROGS INC | CT | W70 | $420,118 | $372,985 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $130,000 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x |
| WOMEN OF COLOR EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE INC | FL | W70 | $155,501 | $172,422 | OFFICER/DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x |
| CATALYST GLOBAL YOUTH INITIATIVES | FL | W70 | $153,421 | $64,548 | PRESIDENT | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x |
| BLACK PROFESSIONALS NETWORK INC | FL | W70 | $423,750 | $61,563 | BOARD MEMBER | $0 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x |
| CENTER FOR COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP INC | NY | W70 | $333,753 | $363,837 | CHAIR | $41,000 | Same NTEE code W70, revenue within 2x |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2015 · Form 990 · $353,776 spent · pay $134,332 · grants $166,539 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants outside the US | $166,539 | $166,539 | - | - | 47.1% | |
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $120,083 | $1,250 | $118,833 | $0 | 33.9% | |
| Travel | $16,834 | $7,784 | $9,050 | $0 | 4.8% | |
| Pay: disqualified persons | $12,751 | $12,751 | $0 | $0 | 3.6% | |
| Fees: accounting | $10,947 | $0 | $10,947 | $0 | 3.1% | |
| Other (as described) | Administrative Expenses | $10,344 | $655 | $9,689 | $0 | 2.9% |
| Office expenses | $4,944 | - | $4,944 | - | 1.4% | |
| Other (as described) | Bank and Merchant Fees | $4,191 | $0 | $4,191 | $0 | 1.2% |
| Other (as described) | Telephone | $2,779 | $0 | $2,779 | $0 | 0.8% |
| Occupancy | $1,745 | $0 | $1,745 | $0 | 0.5% | |
| Other employee benefits | $959 | $0 | $959 | $0 | 0.3% | |
| Insurance | $833 | $0 | $833 | $0 | 0.2% | |
| Payroll taxes | $539 | $0 | $539 | $0 | 0.2% | |
| Information technology | $203 | - | $203 | - | 0.1% | |
| Interest | $85 | $0 | $85 | $0 | 0.0% | |
| Total | $353,776 | 100% |
2013 · Form 990 · $360,783 spent · pay $143,711 · grants $166,180 · events $0
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants outside the US | $166,180 | $166,180 | - | - | 46.1% | |
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $110,200 | $27,550 | $82,650 | - | 30.5% | |
| Office expenses | $20,197 | $14,904 | $5,293 | - | 5.6% | |
| Other employee benefits | $19,525 | $5,085 | $14,440 | - | 5.4% | |
| Fees: accounting | $16,465 | - | $16,465 | - | 4.6% | |
| Payroll taxes | $13,986 | $3,496 | $10,490 | - | 3.9% | |
| Travel | $10,322 | $1,022 | $9,300 | - | 2.9% | |
| Information technology | $3,700 | $1,003 | $2,697 | - | 1.0% | |
| Depreciation and depletion | $171 | - | $171 | - | 0.0% | |
| Fees: other services | $37 | $9 | $28 | - | 0.0% | |
| Total | $360,783 | 100% |
Comments