Nami Westside La
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NAMI WESTSIDE LOS ANGELES IS A GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATION OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS. WE PROVIDE ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN ORDER TO FACILITATE INDEPENDENT AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES OF QUALITY AND RESPECT WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AND STIGMA. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING HIGH-LEVEL EDUCATION AND SERVICES TO THOSE AFFLICTED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 60%
- Reserves
- 6.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $223,517, 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $284,059 spent. CORE CLASSES/SUPPORT GROUPS (FAMILY-TO-FAMILY, PEER-TO-PEER, BASICS) OFFERED 34 FREE FAMILY-TO-FAMILY AND PEER-TO-PEER CLASSES, PROVIDING VITAL SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY. TRAINED 12 NEW TEACHERS TO HELP EXPAND ACCESS TO THESE CRITICAL PROGRAMS. FAMILY-TO-FAMILY: FAMILY-TO-FAMILY IS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF ADULTS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. IN THIS PROGRAM, THE TERM FAMILY IS VIEWED FROM A BROAD PERSPECTIVE TO INCLUDE PARENTS, SIBLINGS, SPOUSES, ADULT SONS AND DAUGHTERS, PARTNERS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. THE 12 CLASSES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP ALL FAMILY MEMBERS UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THEIR LOVED ONE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR OWN WELL-BEING. THE COURSE INCLUDES INFORMATION ON ILLNESSES SUCH AS SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR DISORDER, MAJOR DEPRESSION AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES DESCRIBE THE PROGRAM AS LIFE-CHANGING. THE PROGRAM IS TAUGHT BY TRAINED TEACHERS WHO ARE ALSO FAMILY MEMBERS AND KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE A LOVED ONE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. IT ALSO INCLUDES FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS LED BY TRAINED FAMILY MEMBERS. THE PROGRAM IS INCLUDED IN THE U.S. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION'S (SAMHSA) NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS. PEER-TO-PEER: PEER-TO-PEER IS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THOSE WITH A BRAIN ILLNESS. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN TO LIVE WELL WITH WHAT THEY HAVE. IT CONSISTS OF 8 TWO-HOUR CLASSES AND IS TAUGHT BY A TEAM OF 2 TRAINED MENTORS WHO HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AT LIVING WELL WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS. PARTICIPANTS IN THIS CLASS COME AWAY FROM THE COURSE WITH A BINDER OF HAND-OUT MATERIALS AND AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER TANGIBLE RESOURCES. THEY WILL GET A RELAPSE PREVENTION PLAN TO HELP IDENTIFY TELL-TALE FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, BEHAVIORS, OR EVENTS THAT MAY WARN OF IMPENDING RELAPSE. THEY WILL ALSO LEARN TO ORGANIZE FOR INTERVENTION. MINDFULNESS EXERCISES HELP WITH FOCUSING AND CALM THINKING; PARTICIPANTS LEARN SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR WORKING WITH PROVIDERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. CLASSES ARE A COMBINATION OF LECTURE AND INTERACTIVE EXERCISE MATERIAL AND CLOSE WITH MINDFULNESS PRACTICE (TECHNIQUES OFFERED TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND AWARENESS). EACH CLASS BUILDS ON THE ONE BEFORE, THEREFORE ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED EACH WEEK. PEER SUPPORT GROUPS LED BY TRAINED PEERS IS ALSO PROVIDED. BASICS: NAMI BASICS IS TAUGHT BY TWO TRAINED PARENT TEACHERS USING A DETAILED CURRICULUM SIMILAR TO FAMILY-TO-FAMILY BUT SPECIFIC TO THE ONSET OF MENTAL ILLNESS PRIOR TO AGE 18 YEARS. NAMI BASICS IS NOW OFFERED ONLINE.
- $418,520 spent. COLLEGE/SCHOOL PROGRAMS (NAMI ON CAMPUS, ENDING THE SILENCE) REACHED 4,998 STUDENTS THROUGH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND REDUCE STIGMA. CONTINUED ADDRESSING THE NATIONAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS WITH PLANS TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING TO YOUNGER CHILDREN THROUGH EARLY INTERVENTION INITIATIVES. NAMI ON CAMPUS: NAMI ON CAMPUS PROVIDES INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND TO EMPOWER THEM TO TAKE ACTION ON THEIR CAMPUSES. ENDING THE SILENCE: ENDING THE SILENCE IS A 50-MINUTE PROGRAM GIVEN TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM IS DEVOTED TO GIVING STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH AN INFORMATIVE POWERPOINT, SHORT VIDEOS, AND PERSONAL TESTIMONY. THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, STUDENTS LEARN SYMPTOMS AND INDICATORS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND ARE GIVEN IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO HELP THEMSELVES, FRIENDS, OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF SUPPORT.
- $285,713 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION (SPEAKER MEETINGS, WARM LINE, IN OUR OWN VOICE) ENGAGED WITH 569 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT, OUTREACH EVENTS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND RESOURCES. SPEAKER MEETINGS: MONTHLY, NAMI WESTSIDE OFFERS OUR COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM EXPERTS FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ADDRESS TOPICS SUCH AS HOUSING, RECOVERY RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, TREATMENT OPTIONS, FAMILY COPING SKILLS, SELF-CARE, HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY, AND MANY MORE. WARM LINE: NAMI WESTSIDE OFFERS A WARM LINE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IN ORDER TO ASSIST FAMILIES AND PEERS WITH RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. IN OUR OWN VOICE (IOOV): "IN OUR OWN VOICE: LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS" IS DEDICATED TO THE SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND GROWTH OF CONSUMERS AS PRESENTERS. THE PERSONAL EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM DISPELS MANY MYTHS SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESSES AND WILL HELP REDUCE STIGMA AS WE OPENLY TALK ABOUT IT. THE POWER OF IOOV IS BASED ON THE SHARING OF JOURNEYS WHILE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
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 October 13, 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 July 2008.
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 October 21, 2026.
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