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Oesterlen - Services for Youth Foundation Inc

EIN 31-0536998 · Springfield, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak18 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ON BEHALF OF THE CHURCH, IN WITNESS TO CHRIST, THIS AGENCY'S MISSION IS TO SERVE CHILDREN IN NEED FROM INFANCY THROUGH TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD AND TO PROMOTE THEIR MENTAL, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, AND SPIRITUAL WELL BEING. TO CARRY OUT THIS MISSION, OESTERLEN IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING HEALTHY FAMILIES AND UTILIZING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS WITHIN THE PROFESSIONAL FIELDS OF OUR SERVICE.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
-7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
73
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$150,000, 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: 18 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent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
  2. $205,586 spent. TREATMENT FOSTER CARE USES LICENSED HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING AREA TO PROVIDE SAFE, SUPPORTIVE HOME PLACEMENTS FOR YOUTH WITH MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT NEEDS.TREATMENT FOSTER PARENTS PROVIDE A SAFE, STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT AND ADDRESS THE FOSTER CHILD'S NEEDS WITH RESOURCEFUL INTERVENTIONS PROVIDED BY OESTERLEN SERVICES FOR YOUTH, INC.THE GOAL OF TREATMENT FOSTER CARE IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE, STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND/OR DISABILITY WITH THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS.DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, 54 FOSTER CARE CLIENTS WERE SERVED.
  3. $222,312 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICE OUTPATIENT THERAPY INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY AND GROUP COUNSELING, INDEPENDENT LIVING, WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES, INTENSIVE HOME BASED TREATMENT (IHBT), AND A HEAD-START PROGRAM. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER SERVED 228 OUTPATIENT CLIENTS. WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 19 FAMILIES AND 51 CHILDREN IN FISCAL YEAR 2024.

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 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for churches. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 August 1963.

    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.