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Buckelew Programs

EIN 23-7088977 · Novato, CA

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

What it says it does

BUCKELEW PROGRAMS' MISSION IS TO PROMOTE RECOVERY, RESILIENCE, AND HOPE BY PROVIDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE.

Income
$23.1 million
Spending
$25.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 84%
Employees
279
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$246,313, ceo

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 7% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 (4)
  1. $14.5 million spent. SUPPORTED HOUSING:BUCKELEW PROGRAMS SUPPORTED HOUSING IS BUILT ON THE BELIEF THAT SAFE HOUSING, COMBINED WITH PERSONALIZED SUPPORT, IS ESSENTIAL TO RECOVERY. CENTRAL TO OUR APPROACH IS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE WE PROVIDE, ENSURING CLIENTS ARE SUPPORTED AT EVERY STAGE - FROM CRISIS INTERVENTION TO RECOVERY AND LONG-TERM STABILITY. OUR FLEXIBLE SERVICE MODEL ADAPTS TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, OFFERING EVERYTHING FROM INTENSIVE CARE TO MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING WITH MINIMAL ASSISTANCE. THIS CONTINUUM EMPOWERS CLIENTS TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES WITH THE NECESSARY LEVEL OF CARE AT EVERY STEP.
  2. $3.5 million spent. RECOVERY:BUCKELEW PROGRAMS RECOVERY SERVICES HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES BEGIN AND SUCCEED IN THEIR RECOVERY JOURNEY. SOBER-LIVING RESIDENCES ARE SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS WHERE CLIENTS WHO COMPLETE DETOX AND TREATMENT CONTINUE DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS FOR RECOVERY AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION INTO THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $1.8 million spent. SUICIDE PREVENTION:BUCKELEW'S SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDES OUTREACH, EDUCATION AND PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY SUICIDE LOSS. WE OPERATE ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S 12 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE CALL CENTERS, PART OF THE NATIONAL 988 NETWORK. OUR 24/7 CALL CENTER RESPONDS TO CALLS FROM MARIN, SONOMA, LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES, OFFERING FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES TO ANYONE EXPERIENCING ANY LEVEL OF DISTRESS. BY CALLING OR TEXTING 988, INDIVIDUALS ARE CONNECTED WITH HIGHLY TRAINED COUNSELORS WHO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT, ACTIVE LISTENING AND REFERRALS TO LIFE-SAVING RESOURCES, INCLUDING BUCKELEW'S OWN COUNSELING AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
  4. $2.4 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS:SERVICE NAVIGATION:BUCKELEW PROGRAM'S SERVICE NAVIGATION CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND THEIR ADVOCATES, WITH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TAILORED TO THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. OFTEN, UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OR SUBSTANCE USE IMPACTS THE ENTIRE SUPPORT NETWORK SURROUNDING AN INDIVIDUAL. OUR SERVICE NAVIGATION PROGRAMS PROVIDE EDUCATION, GUIDANCE AND CONNECTION TO LIFE-SAVING SERVICES. COUNSELING:BUCKELEW PROGRAMS COUNSELING SERVICES PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, YOUTH, COUPLES AND FAMILY COUNSELING, WITH SPECIALIZED TRAUMA TREATMENT FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. OUR WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES IS TAILORED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH PERSON, NO MATTER THEIR STAGE OF LIFE. SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE, IN THE HOME OR VIRTUALLY.

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 October 13, 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 December 1970.

    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 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.