Highland Center Corp
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO BE A SAFE WELCOMING PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE CAN GROW, LEARN AND SHARE TO BUILD A STRONGER SUSTAINABLE HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $725,225
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 21.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $60,000, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 71% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (4)
- $326,600 spent. THE HIGHLAND CENTER IS ALSO GROWING AS AN OFFICE HUB FOR MISSION-DRIVEN ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT MULTIPLE SERVICES CAN BE ACCESSED AT ONE LOCATION. OUR TENANTS PROVIDE AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT TO TEENS; HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO YOUNG ADULTS ON THE BRINK OF HOMELESSNESS; EDUCATIONAL CLASSES IN HISET (GED), COMPUTER LITERACY, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP; DIAPERS AND HYGIENE SUPPLIES; MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES; WORKFORCE RE-TRAINING FOR SENIORS; NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCACY; WORSHIP SERVICES; AND MORE.
- $69,286 spent. THROUGH THE HIGHLAND CENTER MINISTRIES, PARTNER CONGREGATIONS SERVE LOW-TO-MODERATE-INCOME NEIGHBORS TOGETHER. THE HIGHLAND BLESSING DINNER AND SENIOR LUNCH SERVE OVER 125 GUESTS PER WEEK AT FAMILY-STYLE, SIT-DOWN MEALS, WITH TABLE SERVICE PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS.
- $95,872 spent. FINANCIAL PROGRAMS: FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS ASSISTANCE - MONTHLY WORKSHOPS ARE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BY A HUD-CERTIFIED FINANCIAL COUNSELOR TO EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS ON THE HOMEBUYER PROCESS. CERTIFICATES OF CLASS COMPLETION CAN BE USED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS QUALIFY FOR DOWN-PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. OTHER FINANCIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE VITA FREE TAX PREP FOR OVER 700 NEIGHBORS; HAND UP LOW-INTEREST LOANS; AND A LOW-FEE ATM ON SITE.
- $99,761 spent. ADDITIONALLY, FREE CLOTHING CLOSETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN, MEN, AND WOMEN FIVE DAYS PER WEEK. COMMUNITY CENTER AMENITIES ARE ALSO OFFERED AT THE HIGHLAND CENTER, INCLUDING A NEIGHBOR-LED COMMUNITY LIBRARY, A COMPUTER LAB WITH IT HELP, A MULTI-PURPOSE GYM, AND A KITCHEN COMMISSARY. THIS SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE CREATES A SAFE PLACE FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, DIGITAL ACCESS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
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
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 December 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 December 2010.
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.