Howardcenter Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Howard Center, Inc. helps people and communities thrive by providing supports and services to address mental health, substance use and developmental needs.
- Income
- $140.6 million
- Spending
- $142.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 1,628
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $382,065, chief medical officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $81.7 million spent. Mental Health Substance Use and Developmental Services provide a variety of short-term to long-term support services, treatment and care management to individuals who are experiencing the effects of mental illness, substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities. Emotional, psychological, or behavioral distress may be present regardless of diagnosis, situational stress, or life circumstances. Services include care management, supportive counseling, outpatient treatment, psychiatric care, residential care, harm reduction, medication management, and employment support. Services are provided with the goal of successfully integrating individuals into the community, honoring self-determination, and meeting the care needs clients identify.
- $33.1 million spent. Child, Youth and Family Services provide prevention, screening, assessment, treatment, and education services and support to children and youth and their families with substance use, developmental disabilities, and mental health needs. Programs include counseling, school-based services, in-home work, therapeutic interventions, skills development, crisis intervention, hospital diversion, special education, and residential programs. These services provide individuals with tools and strategies to succeed at school, home and in the community and to assist families to improve functioning.
- $13.9 million spent. Integrated Services provide support to people in distress or acute crisis to determine level of care needs and additional service needs. Modalities include crisis response, outreach, telehealth and short-term stabilization for youth and adults. These programs provide screening, assessment, support, and care management to provide services in the least restrictive manner, avoid hospitalization and emergency department visits. These interventions also set up appropriate care to avoid any future crisis.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1945.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.