Nonprofit · EIN 85-4072043
COLORWAVE PROJECT INC
Also known as COLORWAVE
Tax-exempt · BERKELEY, CA 94704
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $238,028 | $250,911 | -$12,883 | $24,321 | $3,873 | $20,448 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $450,223 | $580,227 | -$130,004 | $36,158 | $2,827 | $33,331 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $621,501 | $534,220 | $87,281 | $168,989 | $5,654 | $163,335 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $238,028
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $0
- Other salaries and wages
- $57,291
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $67,116
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $13,259
- Occupancy
- $4,836
- Program services (functional)
- $218,864
- Management and general (functional)
- $30,867
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,180
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $36,158
- Total assets, end of year
- $24,321
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $3,873
- Net assets, end of year
- $20,448
- Gross receipts
- $238,028
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 22
- Year formed
- 2021
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Roussel | CEO Trustee or director | 40 | $87,292 | $1,042 |
| Leandrew Robinson | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Joey Zwillinger | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Josh Fisher | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| David Stark | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sadasia McCutchen | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jose Lopez | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Lena McAfee Young | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Castillo | Chief Impact Officer Highest-paid employee | 40 | $121,341 | $14,576 |
| John Roussel | CEO Trustee or director | 40 | $108,334 | $2,638 |
| Sasha Mack | Director of Partnerships & Marketing Key employee | 40 | $95,833 | $13,129 |
| Leandrew Robinson | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Joey Zwillinger | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Josh Fisher | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| David Stark | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sadasia McCutchen | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jose Lopez | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Lena McAfee Young | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Castillo | Director of Program/Community Highest-paid employee | 40 | $125,000 | $14,106 |
| John Roussel | Executive Director Trustee or director | 40 | $118,333 | $8,304 |
| Sasha Mack | Director of Partnerships Key employee | 40 | $100,000 | $8,741 |
| Leandrew Robinson | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JoeyZwillinger | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Josh Fisher | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| David Stark | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sadasia McCutchen | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jose Lopez | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Lena McAfee Young | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jason Norman | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Sydney Thomas | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2400C BANCROFT WAY, BERKELEY, CA 94704-1609
- In care of
- % COLORWAVE
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- John Roussel, 2400C Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
- Signed the 990
- John Roussel, CEO
- Phone
- (310) 710-4559
- Website
- www.thecolorwave.org
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 85-4072043 or by the name COLORWAVE PROJECT INC.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
The Colorwave Project, Inc. dba Colorwave is organized and operated for educational purposes for underrepresented professionals in the startup and high-growth business sector. Our organization leads an eight-week leadership program to help educate, support and train underrepresented, primarily low-income, first-generation professionals on how America's startup and high-growth business sector works, how to attain jobs within the industry, and gain financial security through employment and entrepreneurship.
Program accomplishments
- As of 2025, Colorwave celebrated its fifth year of program operations. Since 2021, we have served 600+ individuals across 135 different cities helping to grow their networks and access meaningful career opportunities at high-growth companies across the innovation economy. During 2025, we led three major program initiatives. First, we led our flagship fellowship program in Spring 2025 support 55 fellows in navigating their pathway into startups. During the fall, we led our first pitch competition for early-stage founders with 70 applicants and three final prize winners being awarded non-dilutive funding to grow their business. Finally, in partnership with Stiles Hall, we cohosted the first offering of the Berkeley Rising Leaders Institute course supporting 15 rising undergraduates in leadership development and support in launching independent social enterprises and impact initiatives.Expenses $218,864 · revenue $238,028
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 85-4072043
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2021
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B90)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $24,321
- Income (IRS master file)
- $238,028
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $238,028 | $250,911 | $24,321 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2024 | $450,223 | $580,227 | $36,158 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2023 | $621,501 | $534,220 | $168,989 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $600,205 | $557,619 | $83,939 | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 85-4072043).
Questions about COLORWAVE PROJECT INC
- What is the EIN of COLORWAVE PROJECT INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of COLORWAVE PROJECT INC is 85-4072043.
- Is COLORWAVE PROJECT INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2021.
- Are donations to COLORWAVE PROJECT INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does COLORWAVE PROJECT INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of COLORWAVE PROJECT INC due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did COLORWAVE PROJECT INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of COLORWAVE PROJECT INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names John Roussel.
- Who are the officers and directors of COLORWAVE PROJECT INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 8 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $87,292 (John Roussel, CEO).
- How much revenue does COLORWAVE PROJECT INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $238,028, expenses of $250,911 and total assets of $24,321 at year end.
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