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Oasis Institute

EIN 30-0403895 · La Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SAN DIEGO OASIS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING PEOPLE 50+ THROUGHOUT THE SAN DIEGO REGION. OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SUCCESSFUL AGING THROUGH A THREE-FOLD APPROACH: LIFELONG LEARNING, HEALTHY LIVING AND INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
15
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$183,176, president / ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $875,067 spent. EDUCATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING - SAN DIEGO OASIS PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR A BROAD AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF LIFELONG LEARNERS. TOPICS INCLUDE CREATIVE WRITING, FOREIGN LANGUAGES, HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, ART, MUSIC, BOOK DISCUSSIONS, TECHNOLOGY, CURRENT EVENTS, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND SUPPORT GROUPS. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY, INCLUDING OASIS CENTERS, LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND SENIOR CENTERS.
  2. $425,692 spent. TECHNOLOGY - SAN DIEGO OASIS OFFERS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF TECHNOLOGY CLASSES FOR OLDER LEARNERS. COURSES INCLUDE UNDERSTANDING CLOUD AND WIFI, LEARNING TO USE A SMARTPHONE, ONLINE SAFETY, SOCIAL NETWORKS, MANAGING PHOTOS, GADGETS & GISMOS, STRONG PASSWORDS. THESE TECH WORKSHOPS HELP OLDER ADULTS IMPROVE THEIR TECHNOLOGY SKILLS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO ENTER OR REENTER THE WORKFORCE, STAY CONNECTED TO FAMILIES, AND IMPROVE THEIR COMFORT AS ONLINE CONSUMERS. BESIDES FULLLENGTH CLASSES, OASIS OFFERS PROGRAMMING IN THE COX TECH TANK: ONE-ON-ONE TECH CONSULTATIONS AS WELL AS 30 MINUTE WORKSHOPS ON PRACTICAL TIPS, SUCH AS "WHAT IS A QR CODE?"
  3. $319,362 spent. VOLUNTEER SERVICE - SAN DIEGO OASIS OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING INTERGENERATIONAL MENTORING PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS LITERACY. THROUGH THE ONE-ON-ONE OASIS INTERGENERATIONAL TUTORING PROGRAM, TRAINED VOLUNTEERS SERVE AS READING TUTORS FOR PRIMARY GRADE STUDENTS IN 11 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CURRENTLY SERVING MORE THAN 100 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. VOLUNTEERS ALSO SERVE IN ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES AS COURSE INSTRUCTORS, OASIS CENTER VOLUNTEERS, AND AMBASSADORS.
  4. $316,143 spent. HEALTH: THROUGHOUT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY, IN ITS FULL TIME CENTERS AND PARTNER LOCATIONS, SAN DIEGO OASIS OFFERS A BROAD VARIETY OF EXERCISE AND FITNESS CLASSES, AS WELL AS HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN AREAS OF NUTRITION, DISEASE MANAGEMENT, SENSORY CHANGES, MENTAL HEALTH, MEMORY, AND GENERAL HEALTH PROMOTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 December 2021.

    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 November 4, 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.