Prevent a Tax Sale & Preserve Community Land

Help Protect A Community Resource

For nearly twenty years, Deep Root Center for Spiritual Studies has served the Oakland community through wellness education, Qigong, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, meditation, and personal development programs.

Today, we face an urgent challenge.

Two parcels of land owned by Deep Root Center are at risk of an Alameda County tax sale due to delinquent property taxes. While we are actively pursuing the nonprofit property tax exemption process available to charitable organizations, the county’s tax sale timeline is moving faster than the exemption review process.

Without immediate action, these community-serving assets could be sold.

Why This Happened

A major factor in this situation was the application of Oakland’s vacant land tax, which increased our annual property tax burden from approximately $1,000 per year to approximately $12,000 per year across the two parcels.

As a nonprofit organization, we believe these properties qualify for California’s Welfare Exemption. We have already submitted our Organizational Clearance Certificate with the California Board of Equalization and are actively pursuing the exemption claims with Alameda County.

The challenge is timing.

The exemption process takes time, but the county tax-sale deadline is immediate.

Our Immediate Goal: $24,600

Alameda County has advised that we can prevent the tax sale by entering an installment plan.

To initiate that plan, we must make a minimum payment of:

$24,600.64

This is our first and most urgent fundraising milestone.

Reaching this goal will allow us to stop the sale process and create time for the exemption review and additional fundraising efforts.

Our Long-Term Goal

The full redemption amount for both parcels is currently:

$77,992.36

Any funds raised beyond our immediate goal will be used to:

* Reduce outstanding tax obligations

* Complete full redemption of the properties

* Cover county-required fees associated with preventing the sale

* Preserve these assets for future community use

Why These Properties Matter

These parcels are not investment properties.

They are nonprofit-owned assets held in support of Deep Root Center’s charitable and educational mission.

For nearly two decades, Deep Root Center has worked to make wellness, martial arts, meditation, and personal growth practices accessible to the community.

Preserving these properties protects future opportunities for community programs, educational initiatives, and mission-driven development.

How You Can Help

Every contribution helps.

Whether you give $25, $100, $500, or more, your support moves us closer to protecting these community assets.

If you are in a position to make a leadership gift, we welcome conversations regarding contributions of:

* $2,500

* $5,000

* $10,000

* Larger gifts

* Donor-Advised Fund recommendations

* Short-term bridge financing

If you cannot donate today, sharing this campaign with your network is another meaningful way to help.

Thank You

Deep Root Center has served the community since 2006 because of people who believe wellness, education, and personal development should be accessible and transformative.

We are grateful for every donation, every share, and every person helping us preserve these resources for future generations.

With gratitude,

Sheldon Callahan

Executive Director & Board Chair

Deep Root Center for Spiritual Studies

www.thedeeproot.org