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Alta Vista Center for Autism

EIN 30-0199263 · Lakewood, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM THROUGH LEARNING, SUPPORT, AND SOLUTIONS. WE ACHIEVE THIS BY BUILDING INNOVATIVE, INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS AND CULTIVATING MEANINGFUL, IMPACTFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
149
Volunteers
67
Highest pay
$144,243, 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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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)
  1. $4.8 million spent. ONE OF A HANDFUL OF AUTISM CENTERS IN COLORADO, FIREFLY OFFERS SOME OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS, AN INTENSIVE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM, SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAM, HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM, AND SOCIAL SKILLS CLASSES. FIREFLY'S SERVICES SPAN ALL OVER THE GREATER DENVER AREA, AND REACH AS FAR NORTH AS BOULDER AND AS FAR SOUTH AS COLORADO SPRINGS. WE SERVE AGES 18 MONTHS TO 21 YEARS IN OUR CENTER, WHILE THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT FOR OUR HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. EVERY PROGRAM HAS A 1:1 CLIENT TO THERAPIST RATIO WITH A HIGHLY QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN AND THERAPIST. FIREFLY TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON STATE OF THE ART, EMPIRICALLY-BASED INTERVENTIONS, UTILIZING THE SCIENCE OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS TO TEACH OUR CLIENTS ESSENTIAL AND LIFE-CHANGING ADAPTIVE SKILLS, AND AMELIORATE MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR. THE SUPERVISING PERSONNEL FOR ABA-BASED PROGRAMS ARE BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS (BCBAS) WHO, IN ADDITION TO HOLDING A GRADUATE DEGREE, COMPLETING A SERIES OF COURSEWORK IN ABA, AND REQUIRED HOURS OF SUPERVISION, ARE CREDENTIALED BY THE BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS CERTIFICATION BOARD. TO MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION, EACH ANALYST MUST MAINTAIN CONTINUING EDUCATION AT LEAST ANNUALLY. TO ENHANCE SERVICE DELIVERY, OUR ORGANIZATION INCLUDES SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. SINCE WE BASE OUR SERVICES ON EMPIRICALLY DRIVEN DATA AND EVIDENCEBASED PRACTICES, OUR CLIENTS ALWAYS MAKE PROGRESS. OUR STAFF ARE HIGHLY TRAINED, DRIVEN, AND ENDLESSLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS WITH WHOM THEY WORK. THE PROGRESS OF OUR CLIENTS, AND OVERALL IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIVES OF THE CLIENT AND FAMILY UNIT IS OUR ULTIMATE FOCUS. WE PROVIDE ONGOING SUPERVISION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO OUR STAFF, SO THEY ARE VERY INVESTED IN CLIENT'S PROGRESS AND IN THE EXPANDING PROFESSIONAL CULTURE OF FIREFLY AUTISM. WE HAVE NUMEROUS STAFF WHO COME TO US TO LEARN THE ART OF EFFECTIVE AND ETHICAL BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT. WE HAVE BEEN PROUD TO HAVE STAFF BECOME BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS THROUGH OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND ALL OF OUR THERAPISTS ARE REGISTERED BEHAVIOR TECHNICIANS, WHICH ARE ALSO CREDENTIALED BY THE BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS CERTIFICATION BOARD. FIREFLY AUTISM IS COLORADO'S LEADING TREATMENT CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2003, FIREFLY HAS GROWN TO BECOME ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST RESPECTED FACILITIES OF ITS KIND, OFFERING A WIDE VARIETY OF EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND EVEN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, COME TO US TO LEARN HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO AND PARENTS STRONGLY ADVOCATE TO HAVE THEIR CHILD RECEIVE OUR SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF OUR SERVICES. WE HAVE OVER 100 CHILDREN WAITING TO RECEIVE OUR SERVICES. THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE REPUTATION OF EFFECTIVE SERVICES AND HIGH QUALITY OF OUR PROGRAMS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.