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Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Service Inc

EIN 23-1289242 · Columbia, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 140 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHABILITATION SERVICES, INC. (DARS) IS TO HELP CLIENTS CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES BY PROVIDING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT, COUNSELING, AND SUPPORT TO FACILITATE PERSONAL GROWTH THAT ENCOURAGES CLIENTS TO LIVE SOBER, RESPONSIBLE, AND TRUTHFUL LIVES.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
72
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$139,281, executive director

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 140 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 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $1.7 million spent. MANOS HOUSE IS A LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT FACILITY WHICH PROVIDES A WIDE ARRAY OF COUNSELING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OVER A SIX TO TWELVE MONTH TREATMENT EXPERIENCE. TREATMENT CONSISTS OF GROUP, FAMILY, INDIVIDUAL, PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL THERAPY FOR DELINQUENT MALES AGES 14 TO 18. MANOS HOUSE, A 43-BED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM, SERVED APPROXIMATELY 71 ADOLESCENT MALES WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. OF THESE, 79% SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TREATMENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT AND WERE SUCCESSFULLY DISCHARGED FROM CARE.
  2. $632,900 spent. THE DARS, INC. SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT LIVING (SIL) PROGRAM SERVES CLIENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AT MANOS HOUSE OR THROUGH SIMILAR TREATMENT PROVIDER BUT LACK APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY REFERRAL SOURCES. MANY CLIENTS CANNOT RETURN HOME DUE TO FAMILIES WHO ARE NEGLECTFUL, ABUSIVE, INCARCERATED, OR ACTIVELY ABUSING ILLEGAL DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. WHILE IN TREATMENT CLIENTS LEARN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO LIVE SOBER AND RESPONSIBLE LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY. THE 18-BED SIL PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 29 ADOLESCENT MALES WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. OF THESE, 62% SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ALL ASPECTS OF THE INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT AND WERE SUCCESSFULLY DISCHARGED FROM CARE.
  3. $640,355 spent. THE PROSPECT GROVE HIGH SCHOOL IS A LICENSED PRIVATE ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOL WHICH PROVIDES AN ACCREDITED 12-MONTH EDUCATION FOR CLIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT AT MANOS HOUSE AND SIL. THE SCHOOL FOCUSES ON ACHIEVEMENTS WITH A TRANSITION PLAN FOR THEIR SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION BACK TO THEIR HOME SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL OFFERS STUDENTS ADDITIONAL CREDIT RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSISTS STUDENTS ADVANCED IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY WITH ATTAINING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS. PROSPECT GROVE EDUCATED APPROXIMATELY 87 HIGH SCHOOL AGED CLIENTS FROM BOTH TREATMENT PROGRAMS DURING THE '24-'25 SCHOOL YEAR. 6 STUDENTS EARNED HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND 12 STUDENTS EARNED THEIR GEDS. ALL STUDENTS EARNED HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.