Social Advocates for Youth San Diego Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PARTNER WITH YOUTH, FAMILIES, ADULTS AND COMMUNITIES TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND IS ACHIEVED THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED PROGRAMMING IN THE AREAS OF CHILD AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT; YOUTH, ADULT AND FAMILY WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
- Income
- $26.9 million
- Spending
- $27.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 596
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $230,859, 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 36% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 39 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 35% 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
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)
- $11.5 million spent. CHILD & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: SAY SAN DIEGO'S COMMITMENT TO CHILD AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EXTENDS FROM PRENATAL TO YOUNG ADULTS. USING A VARIETY OF ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, SAY SAN DIEGO OFFERS A SAFE AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN AND YOUTH CAN EXPLORE, LEARN AND GROW. IN ADDITION TO DIVERSE PERSONALITIES AND LEARNING STYLES, SAY SAN DIEGO YOUTH BRING A VIBRANT BLEND OF LANGUAGES, CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS TO OUR PROGRAMS.
- $5.9 million spent. YOUTH, ADULT & FAMILY WELLNESS: SAY SAN DIEGO PROMOTES THE WELLNESS OF YOUTH, ADULTS AND FAMILIES BY WORKING TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER, SAFE AND HEALTHY WITH PROGRAMS ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION, FOSTER AND KINSHIP FAMILY SUPPORT, DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY. SAY SAN DIEGO ENSURES THE SUCCESS OF ITS CLIENTS BY USING PROVEN AND EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THERAPIES, PARENTING CLASSES, EDUCATIONAL GROUPS, ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES AND HEALTHCARE, AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT.
- $5.2 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: SAY SAN DIEGO UNITES PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TO WORK FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. SAY BELIEVES THAT RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES HAVE INHERENT POWER TO ADVOCATE FOR AND CREATE EQUITABLE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR ECONOMIC, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH CARE, JUSTICE AND IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS. SAY ALSO CONVENES AND PARTICIPATES IN ROBUST COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, FINDING UNIQUE STRENGTHS IN COORDINATING AND COMBINING RESOURCES ACROSS MULTIPLE AGENCIES.
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 August 1973.
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.