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Golden Heart Ranch

EIN 26-3131470 · Manhattan Bch, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOLDEN HEART RANCH IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SPECIAL NEEDS YOUNG ADULTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL AND ENJOY A DIGNIFIED QUALITY OF LIFE BY CREATING AN INCLUSIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN LIVE, LEARN, WORK AND SOCIALIZE.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
25
Volunteers
975
Highest pay
$24,924, ceo/founder

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (2)
  1. $312,335 spent. CAMP COYOTE RIDGE PROVIDES OUR SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPERS 2 FUN AND ENGAGING NIGHTS AWAY FROM HOME. THIS PROGRAM FOSTERS INDEPENDENCE, PROMOTES TEAMWORK AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXERCISE, HIKING, ART PROJECTS, GAMES, ANIMAL CARE AND MANY ACTIVITIES THAT GOLDEN HEART RANCH CAN PROVIDE ON OUR 22-ACRE PROPERTY
  2. $579,567 spent. SOCIAL LIVING CLUB PARTICIPANTS WILL ENGAGE IN GROUP SOCIAL SKILLS ACTIVITIES THAT WILL EXPOSE THEM TO PRACTICAL SKILLS SUCH AS TIME PLANNING AND IMPROVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WHEN THEY MOVE AS A GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY (ART MUSEUM, SUPERMARKET, RESTAURANTS, COMMUNITY GARDEN, ETC.) ALONG WITH GROUP LIVING SKILLS ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE COOKING, GARDENING, LAUNDRY, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS THAT ENHANCE PROBLEM SOLVING, COPING, AND DEVELOPMENT CAPACITIES. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING, THE ENHANCEMENT OF EPISODIC MEMORY, AND PROBLEM SOLVING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 2009.

    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.