Breathe California Sacramento Region

What it reported doing in 2025

Since 1917, Breathe California Sacramento Region (SacBreathe) has been at the forefront of promoting lung health and clean air in our communities. Originally established as the Sacramento Society for the Prevention and Cure of Tuberculosis, the organization has evolved to address the pressing respiratory challenges of each era. SacBreathe continues to champion a future with tobacco-free youth, accessible electric vehicles, and pedestrian-friendly communities. Through education, policy, advocacy and community engagement, we strive to ensure that everyone in the Sacramento Region can breathe clean, healthy air.SacBreathe runs community health events in Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado and more. Byeducating our communities on how to make the air cleaner, by using nontoxic cleaningproducts, separating food waste from trash, driving electric cars, walking or bikinginstead of driving, saying no to tobacco and more. Every year, SacBreathe holds a contest asking students in middle and high school to make an original Public Service Announcement (PSA) to support community and peer-to-peer education. Topics include Harms and Impacts of Commercial Tobacco, Air Quality Education and Information, and Food Scraps Recycling and Recovery. The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is open to anyone 14-19 years old living in the Sacramento region who are interested in joining SacBreathes efforts in education, policy, advocacy, and research. Our Community CarShare (OCCS) makes electric vehicles available at a discounted rate to disadvantaged and low-income communities in the City of Sacramento to help raise awareness and educate the public on the benefits of electric vehicles, to strengthen local economies by providing a zero-emission transportation option and to reduce emissions from traditional internal combustion vehicles in the Sacramento Region. The Food Scraps and Recycling program empowers schools and communities to reduce food waste, promote sustainability, and foster environmental stewardship. Sacramento Neighborhoods activating on Air Quality (SNAAQ 3.0) was created under the Assembly Bill 617. The program's focus is to reduce carbon emissions and improve public health in the most polluted communities. UC Davis Health Neighbor Clean Air Program distributes portable air purifiers to approximately 300 homes near a large construction project at the UC Davis Medical Center-Sacramento Campus. SacBreathe distributed 215 HEPA air purifiers and 430 replacement filters. Clean Mobility in Schools (CMIS) Project supports emission reduction strategies at Twin Rivers Unified School District, showcasing zero-emission mobility solutions for schools statewide. SacBreathe developed an elementary-appropriate presentation and activity book to engage students on air quality and the CMIS project, and delivered in-class presentations across multiple classrooms, concluding each session with a hands-on seed-planting activity. Mobility Zones Project (MZP) focused on holding workshops in each county in the Sacramento region to engage priority groups, especially those historically underrepresented in transportation planning. The goal was to collect resident input on transportation projects SACOG should consider funding and implementing within the Mobility Zones. Safe Routes to School (SRTS) involves conducting education and outreach at six schools in Sacramento County. The purpose of this project is to teach students how to walk and bike safely and to determine the safest routes for each location.Purchased by the organization in the 1980s the Breathe Building at 909 12th Street in downtown Sacramento has been a long-time cultivator of the organizations helping to shape the future of our communities. With our updated conference room acting as ameeting and gathering space, and the building's ability to host several communitygroups and nonprofit tenants there is lots bustling and bubbling behind these walls.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.4%; rating input score 87
• Program expense ratio: 75.9%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.23 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -15.2%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.02; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 11.2%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.5% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 39th percentile among comparable filings