Little Friends Center for Autism Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS A FULFILLING LIFE FOR YOUR CHILD. AT THE LITTLE FRIENDS CENTER FOR AUTISM, WE HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING TREATMENT PROGRAM AND NATIONALLY RESPECTED STAFF TO EMPOWER CLIENTS FOR LIFE. TREATMENT STARTS AT A DIAGNOSIS - WHEN WE CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR YOUR CHILD - AND CONTINUES THROUGH SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS, APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS, SPEECH THERAPY AND MORE. WITH A PLAN TAILORED TO THEIR STRENGTHS AND NEEDS, YOUR CHILD WILL DEVELOP THE SKILLS NEEDED TO FLOURISH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $794,221
- Spending
- $938,868
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -11.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $230,707, president/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: 20 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 795% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $808,427 spent. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS PROGRAMS:AUTISM EVALUATION CLINIC - AT OUR AUTISM EVALUATIONS ARE OUTSOURCED TO GROW WELLNESS. SPEECH THERAPY - OUR EXPERT SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS HELP CLIENTS DEVELOP LANGUAGE AND CONVERSATION SKILLS - ASSETS FOR A HEALTHY SOCIAL LIFE.SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS - WITH OUR SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS AND PEER PAIRS, CHILDREN WILL LEARN CRITICAL SKILLS LIKE EYE CONTACT, CONVERSATION AND MORE. A LICENSED CLINICAL COUNSELOR AND SOCIAL WORKER WILL GUIDE CLIENTS AS THEY LEARN THE SKILLS OF A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND DEVELOP MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS FOR LIFE.APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS - WITH APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS, OUR EXPERTS TAILOR A DYNAMIC EDUCATION PLAN FOR EACH CLIENT; SO THEY CAN LEARN INVALUABLE SKILLS AT THE RIGHT PLACE, IN THE IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM. AS THEY DEVELOP SKILLS IN FIELDS LIKE MATH, READING AND COMMUNICATION, WE ADAPT THEIR PROGRAM TO KEEP PACE WITH THEIR GROWTH.TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES - FOR PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS, UNDERSTANDING AUTISM IS CRITICAL. OUR INSTRUCTORS OFFER REALISTIC, USABLE ADVICE ON TOPICS RANGING FROM AUTISM TREATMENTS TO PROACTIVE BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT. NO MATTER HOW EXPERIENCED, EVERY PARENT AND PROFESSIONAL CAN LEARN FROM OUR PROGRAMS AND CONNECT WITH OTHER CARETAKERS. WE OFFER ON-SITE TRAINING AS WELL AS IN-SERVICES FOR SCHOOLS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
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 March 2006.
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.
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.