Mainstay Life Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 62 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WILL LIVE WITHIN A COMMUNITY THAT SUSTAINS THEM AND BENEFITS FROM THEIR PARTICIPATION. MAINSTAY LIFE SERVICES WILL BE REGARDED AS THE REGION'S PROVIDER OF CHOICE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SEEKING SERVICES, AND AS THE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE FOR QUALIFIED AND COMMITTED PROFESSIONALS.
- Income
- $35.7 million
- Spending
- $32.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 495
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $351,164, 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
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 62 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 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 (1)
- $25.1 million spent. FOR OVER 50 YEARS, MAINSTAY LIFE SERVICES (MAINSTAY) (AND ITS PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATIONS HORIZON HOMES AND IDLEWOOD CENTER) HAVE SUPPORTED PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DD). MAINSTAY SUPPORTS OVER 300 PEOPLE, AND THEIR FAMILIES, THROUGHOUT ALLEGHENY AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:RESIDENTIAL: MAINSTAY OWNS AND OPERATES 42 COMMUNITY HOMES WITH 24-HOUR SUPPORTS IN ALLEGHENY (40) AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES (2), SUPPORTING OVER 110 PEOPLE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. NINE HOMES SUPPORT ADULTS LIVING WITH PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME, A RARE GENETIC DISORDER. LIFE SHARING: THROUGH LIFE SHARING, FAMILIES WELCOME A PERSON WITH DD INTO THEIR HOME TO LIVE IN A SHARED, SUPPORTIVE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.SUPPORTED LIVING: SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF PARTICIPANTS BY ASSISTING THEM IN THE AREAS OF SELF-CARE, HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACTIVITIES, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND MORE. IN-HOME AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT: SERVICES ASSIST PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE, MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY AND PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY IN THE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORT (CPS): CPS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND BUILDING INTEREST IN AND DEVELOPING SKILLS AND POTENTIAL FOR COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. SUPPORTS BUILD ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S PREFERENCES, GIFTS, AND STRENGTHS. BEHAVIORAL AND CLINICAL SUPPORTS: SUPPORTS ARE PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING HELP TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO INTEGRATION INTO THEIR HOME, COMMUNITY, OR COPING WITH DAILY LIFE. IN JULY 2022, WE WERE LICENSED AS A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC TO OFFER SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTS BY A LICENSED CLINICIAN TO AUGMENT PSYCHIATRIC CARE. EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS: SERVICES INCLUDE JOB DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY JOB PLACEMENT AND ON-THE-JOB SUPPORTS, WITH THE GOAL OF FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION.COMPANION SERVICES: SERVICES ARE FOR PEOPLE 18 AND OVER LIVING IN PRIVATE HOMES AND PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUPERVISION/ASSISTANCE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THEIR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE. TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS: MAINSTAY IS DEDICATED TO HARNESSING THE POWER OF DIGITAL CONNECTIONS TO ENRICH LIVES AND UNLOCK POTENTIAL. THIS INCLUDES EXPANDING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY THAT ENABLES PEOPLE WITH DD TO LIVE AND THRIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR COMMITMENT TO TECHNOLOGY HAS LED TO MAINSTAY BECOMING THE FIRST PENNSYLVANIA PROVIDER TO RECEIVE THE TECHNOLOGY FIRST ACCREDITATION FROM SHIFT.SELF-ADVOCATES: OUR ADVOCATES ADVISORY BOARD BEGAN IN 2019. THE GROUP WORKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND SATISFACTION OF SERVICES. ADVOCATES ARE INVOLVED IN RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, SERVE ON COMMITTEES AND ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MAINSTAY WORKS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH ALL LEVELS OF DD; ALL SUPPORTS ARE PERSON-CENTERED AND INDIVIDUALIZED. WE HELP PEOPLE TO LIVE MEANINGFUL AND SUCCESSFUL LIVES, WHILE SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY LEARN NEW SKILLS, DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS, AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY. MANY PEOPLE WE WORK FOR ARE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND A HIGH LEVEL OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENCE.
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 1999.
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.