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Non-profit

Community Response Works

Location:

Emeryville, CA
Tax ID:

82-1805718
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $1,210,728
Expenses: $1,263,719
Assets: $784,384
Type:

Advocacy Group
Formation:

2017
Executive Director:

Brandon Anderson

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Community Response Works (formerly known as Raheem AI) is a left-of-center activist organization that was founded to create artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and software to track and rate individual interactions with police officers. 1

The organization has called the police within the United States an, “oppressive institution that exploits, incarcerates, and kills people” in the United States. 2

Raheem AI executive director Brandon Anderson has been accused of misusing more than $1.6 million of funds donated to Raheem AI for personal expenses including vacation rentals, clothing, a chiropractor, veterinary care, and personal ride-share services. 3

History and Leadership

Community Response Works was founded as Raheem AI in 2017 by Brandon D. Anderson. In 2018, the organization was given tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 4

In 2023, Raheem AI changed its name to Community Response Works. Brandon Anderson remains the group’s director. 5 6

Controversy

Raheem AI executive director Brandon Anderson has been accused of misusing more than $1.6 million in funds donated that were donated to Raheem AI for personal use. Anderson allegedly spent the money on vacation rentals, clothing, a chiropractor, veterinary care, and personal ride-share services. 7 The New York Times reported that Anderson has been questioned about his use of $250,000 in expenses in 2021 alone. 8

Activities and Funding

Community Response Works is a left-of-center activist organization claims to use AI software and chatbots in order to track and rate interactions between people and law enforcement. 9 The organization was originally named after the partner of its founder, Brandon Anderson, who was allegedly killed during a police traffic stop in Oklahoma. 10

Raheem AI’s also advocates for citizens to write their council members, register to vote, volunteer for activism, and join a local organization for police procedure changes. 11

The organization partners with other policing-related organizations but does not partner with police departments, which it claims are an “oppressive institution that exploits, incarcerates, and kills people” in the United States. 12

In 2017, Community Response Works created an online service aimed at reporting interactions with police. It also built the PATCH Network, which was a network of mobile crisis teams, health and social service activists, and police-abolitionist organizations to develop an alternative to 911 as a dispatching system. 13

In 2020, the Oakland, California, Police Commission voted to contract with Raheem AI for $40,000 over a three-month contract. 14 Raheem AI founder Brandon Anderson said in 2021 that the organization’s plan for an online complaint service had been a mistake because he did not think that police could ever be fixed. 15 Raheem AI spent $801,841 on program expenses, which included working on crises without involving police, developing additional technology, and other issues. 16

Funding

Community Response Works receives its funding from individual contributions and grants. In 2022, Raheem AI reported revenue of $1,335,148 and expenses of $1,263,719. In 2021, the organization reported contributions of $652,047 and expenses of $1,144,486. 17

In 2023, Raheem AI received $100,000 from the Ford Foundation. 18 In 2022, the organization received $225,000 from the California Wellness Foundation and $200,000 from the Dropbox Charitable Foundation and the Kresge Foundation. 19

In 2021, Raheem AI  received $75,000 from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and $20,000 from the New Venture Fund. 20 21 In 2018, Raheem AI received $345,000 from Fast Forward. 22

References

  1. “Police Accountability.” Stanford University. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://web.stanford.edu/class/cs50/project2.html.
  2. “Raheem builds infrastructure for the future of community crisis response.” Raheem AI. Accessed via Web Archive September 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230511023503/https://www.raheem.ai/.
  3. Parnaby, Laura. “Woke nonprofit staff who want to abolish police left in stunning bind after discovering founder ‘blew fortune of charity cash on designer clothes and mansions’.” Daily Mail Online. August 25, 2024. Updated August 26, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13778195/woke-nonprofit-founder-misuse-funds-brandon-anderson.html.
  4. “Notice of Determination.” Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service. October 10, 2018. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_82-1805718_RAHEEMAL_090720180.tif.
  5. Lewis, Ray. “Activist who wanted to abolish police accused of misusing non-profit funds, NYT says.” NBC 15 News. August 30, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://mynbc15.com/news/nation-world/activist-who-wanted-to-abolish-police-accused-of-misusing-non-profit-fundsbrandon-anderson-who-created-raheem-ai-blm-black-lives-matter-queer-abolitionist-organizer-left-wing-leftist-spending-money-funding.
  6. Fahrenthold, David A. “Would a Group Opposed to Police Blow the Whistle on Its Founder?” New York Times. Published August 5, 2024. Updated August 26, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://archive.md/QNao9#selection-5063.0-5063.231.
  7. Parnaby, Laura. “Woke nonprofit staff who want to abolish police left in stunning bind after discovering founder ‘blew fortune of charity cash on designer clothes and mansions’.” Daily Mail Online. August 25, 2024. Updated August 26, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13778195/woke-nonprofit-founder-misuse-funds-brandon-anderson.html.
  8. Fahrenthold, David A. “Would a Group Opposed to Police Blow the Whistle on Its Founder?” New York Times. Published August 5, 2024. Updated August 26, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://archive.md/QNao9#selection-5063.0-5063.231.
  9. “Police Accountability.” Stanford University. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://web.stanford.edu/class/cs50/project2.html.
  10.  “47. Raheem.ai – ending police brutality.” Apple Podcasts, Your First Million. July 13, 2020. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://podcasts.apple.com/ug/podcast/47-raheem-ai-ending-police-brutality/id1467515562?i=1000484622968.
  11. “Police Accountability.” Stanford University. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://web.stanford.edu/class/cs50/project2.html.
  12. “Raheem builds infrastructure for the future of community crisis response.” Raheem AI. Accessed via Web Archive September 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230511023503/https://www.raheem.ai/.
  13. “Home.” Raheem AI. Accessed September 6, 2024 via Web Archive. https://web.archive.org/web/20230511023503/https://www.raheem.ai/.
  14. Taylor, Otis R. “Database on public’s interactions with police seeks to cut use of force.” January 2, 2020. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://archive.md/zFraz#selection-2787.0-2797.412.
  15. Fahrenthold, David A. “Would a Group Opposed to Police Blow the Whistle on Its Founder?” New York Times. Published August 5, 2024. Updated August 26, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://archive.md/QNao9#selection-5063.0-5063.231.
  16. “Raheem Ai.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/821805718/202323179349304472/full.
  17. “Raheem Ai.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/821805718/202323179349304472/full.
  18. “Raheem Ai.” Ford Foundation. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/awarded-grants/grants-database/raheem-ai-147847/.
  19. “Community Response Works.” Cause IQ. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/raheem-ai,821805718/.
  20. “Grants Catalog.” Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.siliconvalleycf.org/impact/grants-catalog/p1057.
  21.   “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, (Form 990). 2020. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205806345/202243139349303999/IRS990ScheduleI.
  22. “Fast Forward.” Luminate. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.luminategroup.com/investee/fast-forward.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 2018

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $1,210,728 $1,263,719 $784,384 $31,072 N $1,335,148 $0 $0 $160,000
    2021 Dec Form 990 $652,047 $1,144,486 $871,477 $65,174 N $652,047 $0 $0 $186,666
    2020 Dec Form 990 $1,601,208 $534,074 $1,354,075 $55,333 N $1,601,208 $0 $0 $115,000
    2019 Dec Form 990 $206,586 $308,580 $234,285 $2,677 N $206,586 $0 $0 $110,667 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $428,795 $160,837 $343,390 $9,788 N $428,795 $0 $0 $65,056 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990EZ $106,060 $40,416 $70,381 $4,737 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Community Response Works

    1037 57th Street
    Emeryville, CA