Special Needs Network Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Special Needs Network provides advocacy resources and services to families raising children with autism and related disorders. Its work focuses on families who live in under-served communities and children of color.
- Income
- $26.0 million
- Spending
- $20.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 66%
- Employees
- 908
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $587,000, president & co-founder
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
- $19.5 million spent. Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD) - the clinic provides a medical home for children with learning, developmental and mental health issues by offering comprehensive assessments, ABA, speech and occupational therapy, and other needed services. The wide range of free or low-cost health and social services targets at-risk and low-income youth and families and provides services such as family counseling, legal support services, and educational training for parents and caretakers.
- $253,180 spent. Community Advocacy & Outreach: During the COVID-19 crisis, SNN foresaw our new normal and quickly adjusted the delivery of our services and programs to ensure we stayed available and supportive of our constituency. A 24-hour hotline overseen by a licensed clinical social worker that provides phone intervention and guidance to cope with stressors and provide basic information about virus testing sites, ABA therapy, respite, educational, housing, rental payments, mental health, food, transportation, computer, and online assistance. Weekly Podcasts featuring health, wellness, and behavioral experts to provide additional resources and support to families and an Online tri-weekly talk show called The Special Report that tackled everything from Covid-19 concerns to systemic racism that welcomed a variety of experts from around the country.Direct Services: Special Needs Network hosted a Food pantry providing non-perishable items to seniors and individuals with disabilities via contactless community events. Our Back to School Program Distributed backpacks, school supplies, food, and PPE via a drive-through event in South Los Angeles and our Christmas Care Exchange, Collected and distributed over 3,000 toys and PPE to families via a drive-through event in South Los Angeles.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.