Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | 4,074,759 | 2,526,699 | 3,514,391 | 2,065,062 | 3,702,688 | 15,883,599 |
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | 0 | |||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | 0 | |||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | 4,074,759 | 2,526,699 | 3,514,391 | 2,065,062 | 3,702,688 | 15,883,599 |
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | 3,191,937 | |||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | 12,691,662 | |||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | 4,074,759 | 2,526,699 | 3,514,391 | 2,065,062 | 3,702,688 | 15,883,599 |
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | 38,625 | 10,275 | 33,593 | 40,163 | 43,304 | 165,960 |
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | 0 | |||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | 16,049,559 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | ||||||
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | ||||||
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | ||||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | ||||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | ||||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | ||||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | ||||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | ||||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | ||||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | ||||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | ||||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | ||||||
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | ||||||
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | ||||||
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
||||
| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
||||
| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
|||||
| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 1-1/2% of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by .035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | ||
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
||
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | ||
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | ||
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required) | ||
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | ||
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | ||
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
||
| 9 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6 | ||
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | ||
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2019 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2019 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2019: | ||||
| a From 2014....... | ||||
| b From 2015....... | ||||
| c From 2016....... | ||||
| d From 2017....... | ||||
| e From 2018....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2019 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2014 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2019 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2019 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2019, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2019. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2020. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2015..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
|---|
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|
| Software ID: | 17005038 |
| Software Version: | 2017v2.2 |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4d: Other Program Services Description | OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Commonweal Retreat Center: The Commonweal Retreat Center is a breathtakingly beautiful space within the Commonweal site, where we hold the Cancer Help Program retreats and other Commonweal workshops. It also hosts personal and professional conferences, workshops, retreats, and gatherings that are compatible with Commonweal's nonprofit status. The Retreat Center includes Pacific House, a 12-bedroom retreat facility with a commercial kitchen, and Bothin and Kohler Houses, with two and three bedrooms respectively. Jenepher Stowell directs the Retreat Center. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Other Various Programs:In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, Commonweal's other programs did a variety of work contributing to health of people and of the planet. Programs includedCommonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center,Healing Circles, Institute for Art and Healing / EDGE, Fall Gathering, Healing Kitchens Institute, Healing Yoga Foundation, Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies, and Center for Creative Community. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: The New School at Commonweal:Founded in 2007, The New School at Commonweal (TNS) is a community of inquiry exploring topics in health, the arts and sciences, the environment, and the inner life. TNS presents conversations, book readings, performances, and other events with thought and action leaders who are changing our world. Over 200 events are recorded and offered as pod-casts on iTunes and our website. Most gatherings are offered free of charge as gifts to the Commonweal community, giving forward into a circle of generosity. In addition, TNS continues to refine an online presence, including maintaining the website and sending monthly newsletters that are eliciting good response and discussion. Michael Lerner serves as the director, and Kyra Epstein serves as the coordinator of TNS. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 7: Regenerative Design Institute at Commonweal:The Regenerative Design Institute (RDI) offers courses in permaculture, regenerative living, and leadership - all based in deep nature connection. RDI was founded in 2004 and for 14 years stewarded the Commonweal Garden. During this time, thousands of people came to the Commonweal Garden to learn the principles of permaculture and regenerative design - which provide a tool kit of ethical ways of living on earth. In July 2018, RDI moved its base to Whidbey Island, WA. RDI will continue to collaborate on permaculture and other programs at Commonweal Garden under the new stewardship of the Natura Institute. James Stark and Penny Livinston-Stark serve as co-directors of RDI. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 8: Women's Health Program:The Women's Health Program develops leadership and builds capacity to address pressing environmental health issues. Currently it focuses on implementing QuickStart, a robust training program to conduct community-based participatory research (CBPR) that addresses environmental links to breast cancer and health disparities in breast cancer. This program is conducted in partnership with California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP). QuickStart seeks to prepare teams of scientists and community groups to successfully apply for funding through the CBCRP's Community Research Collaboration Awards and then conduct research together. Heather Sarantis serves as the director of the Women's Health Program. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 9: VISUAL THINKING STRATEGIES: Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is a method initiated by teacher-facilitated discussions of art images and documented to have a cascading positive effect on both teachers and students. It is perhaps the simplest way in which teachers and schools can provide students with key behaviors sought by Common Core Standards: thinking skills that become habitual and transfer from lesson to lesson, oral and written language literacy, visual literacy, and collaborative interactions among peers. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 10: Integrative Law Institute: Founded in 2012, the Integrative Law Institute (ILI) aims to bring lawyers the insights and tools they need to return the practice of law to its original purpose as a healing profession. ILI draws on and applies recent discoveries in the biological and social sciences to provide educational programs grounded in the idea that conflict can best be understood as a manifestation of a dysfunctional human system rather than as a problem that can be resolved through the clash of conflicting legal rights and entitlements. ILI offers workshops, retreats, and certification of lawyers in Integrative Law. ILI Director Pauline Tesler is a pioneer in Interdisciplinary Collaborative Legal Practice who teaches lawyers to be peacemakers. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 11: Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies: Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies (BCCT) will help patients and practitioners go "beyond conventional cancer therapies" in informed and prudent ways. We are building a website that will enable patients to explore science-based or at least science-informed choices. We are developing databases of natural products and centers engaged in promising integrative oncology work. In a sense, BCCT is a new version of Michael Lerner's book from MIT Press, Choices in Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Cancer Therapies. Advisors include a dozen of the leading integrative oncologists in the country. Michael Lerner serves as the director, and Sheila Opperman coordinates BCCT. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 12: Center for Creative Community: Founded in 2014, The Center for Creative Community (C3) is an umbrella for a number of Commonweal projects that explore the intersection of dialogue, cognition, creativiey, and community. Through work in different communities, C3 seeks to deepen our exploration of complex issues in our world. C3 programs include the Power of Hope Youth Camp, the Creative Facilitation Training Series, Commonweal's Fall Gathering, Visual Thinking Strategies and the Ecology of Awakening program. These programs are bringing new energy and diversity to Commonweal, strengthening the foundation for the next forty years of work. Oren Slozberg directs C3. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 13: Healing Circles: Founded in 2014, Healing Circles is an international learning community for people who want to do deep intentional healing work with cancer and other diseases or experiences of loss. Designed to extend the core work of the Cancer Help Program, it seeks to bring the deep experiences of healing to people who want to create a healing cirlce in their living room, church or any other setting. Healing Circles was founded in partnership with three other centers - in Vancouver, B.C., Washington State, and Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, D.C. - that have done residential retreats based on the Cancer Help Program model for at least 20 years. We now have new centers in Langley on Whidbey Island, Washington, and in Houston, Texas. Our three Bay Area CCHP alumni groups are our laboratories for Healing Circles work in the Bay Area. Healing Circles are forming in North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Another Healing Circles just began in Jerusalem. Hundreds of people have experiences and studied Healing Circles work. Michael Lerner serves as the director, and Sheila Opperman coordinates Healing Cirlces. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 14: Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center: Founded in 2006, the Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center (CBRC) helps citizen groups around the world measure, or biomonitor, the levels of toxic substances or their breakdown products in human tissue and fluids. By documenting the personal chemical body burdens of key individuals, CBRC generates and delivers clear messages about the significance of biomonitoring data to the public, community groups, and state legislators. Biomonitoring data tells us that toxic chemicals pollute our "internal landscape" and suggests that this landscape is precious, fragile, and vulnerable to chemically related harm. CBRC has been collaborating with the International Association of Fire Fighters on biomonitoring firefighters for the presence of chemicals released in the heat of fires and chemical flame retardants; it has also been collaborating with the Women Firefighters Biomonitoring Collaborative. In addition, CBRC is currently focused on the environmental health concerns of communities exposed to fracking and related gas and oil developments. Sharyle Patton serves as the director of CBRC. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 4: Description of Significant Changes to Organizational Documents | ON APRIL 11, 2018, COMMONWEAL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AMENDED AND RESTATED THEIR BY-LAWS TO INCREASE BOARD SIZE TO 12 MEMBERS AND TO SET NEW BOARD TERM LIMITS TO TWO 3-YEAR TERMS WITH A MANDATORY GAP YEAR AFTER THE 2 TERMS ARE COMPLETED. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b: Form 990 Review Process | REVIEWED BY STAFF AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND A COPY GIVEN TO THE BOARD. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c: Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of Conflicts | THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY IS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF HANDBOOK AND THE BYLAWS. THE STAFF HANDBOOK IS GIVEN UPON HIRE AND WHEN REVISED. AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IS SIGNED BY STAFF AND KEPT IN THE EMPLOYEE FILE. THE BYLAWS ARE GIVEN TO BOARD MEMBERS UPON JOINING THE BOARD AND WHEN REVISED. EACH BOARD MEMBER IS REQUIRED TO SIGN A STATEMENT ANNUALLY DISCLOSING ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. BOARD MEMBERS INVOLVED IN A POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARE EXCLUDED FROM VOTING ON ISSUES RELATED TO SUCH INTERESTS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a: Compensation Review & Approval Process - CEO, Top Management | COMMONWEAL DOES A COMPARISON TO OTHER NONPROFITS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THEN FACTORS IN EXPERIENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY. USING THIS INFORMATION, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES COMPENSATION FOR ALL BOARD DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, THE PRESIDENT, CEO,EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COO, CSO AND CFO. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available | COMMONWEAL DOES NOT MAKE ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY OR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. |
| FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1 | (continued from page 1)yoga, healing nutrition, permaculture gardening, and juvenile justice. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 8B | No committee meetings that had the authority to act on behalf of the governing body were held during the fiscal year. If any committees that had the authority to act on behalf of the governing body had met during the fiscal year, the meetings would be contemporaneously documented. |
| Software ID: | 17005038 |
| Software Version: | 2017v2.2 |