Vista Life Innovations Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 57 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
VISTA PROVIDES TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL SUCCESS AND BELONGING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
- Income
- $11.3 million
- Spending
- $12.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 12 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 87%
- Employees
- 248
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $186,909, chief executive 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: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 57 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.
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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 (4)
- $3.6 million spent. ENGAGE PROGRAM - FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM THE DISCOVER PROGRAM, THE MAJORITY OF VISTA STUDENTS SETTLE ALONG THE SHORELINE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT VISTA SERVES, WHERE THEY BECOME VALUED AND ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY AS PART OF VISTA'S ENGAGE PROGRAM, A LONG-TERM PERSONALIZED PROGRAM OFFERING SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS. MEMBERS LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY INDEPENDENTLY, WITH HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT. VISTA LIFE MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF SERVICES, PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORT 24 HOURS A DAY / 365 DAYS A YEAR. INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT FOR ALL STAGES OF ADULT LIFE.
- $2.5 million spent. DISCOVER PROGRAM - RUNNING 365 DAYS PER YEAR, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A COLLEGE-LIKE EXPERIENCE AND FEATURES CURRICULUM DRIVEN INSTRUCTION IN FOUR CORE SKILL AREAS - COGNITIVE/SOCIAL, LIFE SKILLS, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND VOCATIONAL EXPLORATION. INSTRUCTION IS DESIGNED TO PROGRESSIVELY BUILD SKILLS OVER TIME WITH THE AVERAGE STUDENT GRADUATING WITHIN A 2-5 YEAR WINDOW. WITH OVER 75 COMMUNITY-BASED VOCATIONAL PARTNERS, THE DISCOVER PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A STUDENT WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCES CULMINATING WITH PAID EMPLOYMENT PRIOR TO GRADUATION. GRADUATING STUDENTS POSSESS THE SKILLS NEEDED TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND, THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES, HAVE BROADENED THEIR PEER CONNECTIONS WITH ACCESS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF LONG-TERM VISTA PROGRAMS AND ALL THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE TO OFFER
- $2.2 million spent. DAY PROGRAMS - DAY PROGRAMS ARE GEARED TOWARDS INDIVIDUALS LIVING NEAR THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR THOSE READY AND SEEKING STRUCTURED, SUPPORTED DAILY ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE PRODUCTIVITY, FRIENDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. VISTA DAY PROGRAMS INCLUDE: CONNECT -PROVIDES DAILY ACTIVITIES IN A SCHEDULED ROUTINE, STRUCTURED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF EACH PERSON. CONNECT THROUGH ART -VISUAL ARTS-BASED DAY PROGRAM THAT TAKES PARTICIPANTS DEEPER INTO CREATIVE PROJECTS AND DIFFERENT CREATIVE PLATFORMS. DRAWING, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND OTHER ARTISTIC AREAS ARE INCLUDED. NEW HEIGHTS IS A POST-SECONDARY DAY PROGRAM LOCATED IN PAWCATUCK, CT THAT OFFERS STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SUCH AS GAINING EMPLOYMENT WHILE ALSO ACHIEVING PERSONAL SUCCESS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR NEURODIVERSE YOUNG ADULTS AGED 17 AND UP WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED SELF-CARE, MEDICATION AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT, AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS. THE CURRICULUM-DRIVEN INSTRUCTION IS PROVIDED IN FIVE CORE TRAINING AREAS: VOCATIONAL TRAINING, POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION, LIFE SKILLS, COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR.
- $1.2 million spent. VISTA OPERATES A NONPROFIT GIFT SHOP IN DOWNTOWN MADISON, CONNECTICUT WHICH SUPPORTS VISTA OPERATIONS, EMPLOYS ITS MEMBERS, AND IS A BRIDGE TO COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING. THERE IS A WIDE ARRAY OF RECREATION, FITNESS, AND SOCIAL CLUBS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND MEMBERS WITH COMMON INTERESTS. ON AVERAGE, STUDENTS AND MEMBERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN AROUND 15+ ACTIVITIES OR CLUBS EACH WEEK, WHICH TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 30 HOURS OF STRUCTURED RECREATIONAL SERVICES. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES MAY BE PURCHASED BY MEMBERS FOR TRAVEL TO AND FROM VISTA, WORK, AND PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE VISTA TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AREA, SUBJECT TO VISTA TRANSPORTATION POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS. NEW HEIGHTS IS A POST-SECONDARY DAY PROGRAM LOCATED IN PAWCATUCK, CONNECTICUT THAT OFFERS STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SUCH AS GAINING EMPLOYMENT WHILE ALSO ACHIEVING PERSONAL SUCCESS. THRIVE IS A PROGRAM OFFERED TO VISTA MEMBERS AGED 45 AND OLDER THAT PROVIDES A FOUR-HOUR PROGRAM DAY FOCUSING ON SOCIALIZATION, FOSTERING PEER RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
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 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 March 1992.
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 November 4, 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.