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Santa Maria Community Services

EIN 31-0537141 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SANTA MARIA IS A CATALYST AND ADVOCATE FOR GREATER PRICE HILL FAMILIES TO ATTAIN THEIR EDUCATION, FINANCIAL, AND HEALTH GOALS.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 47%
Employees
62
Volunteers
247
Highest pay
$180,182, 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $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 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. $1.2 million spent. SANTA MARIA'S EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM INCLUDES EVERY CHILD SUCCEEDS (ECS) AND PROMOTING OUR PRESCHOOLERS (POP). ECS, SERVING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES PRENATAL TO THREE, AND POP, SERVING FAMILIES WITH PRESCHOOLERS AGES THREE TO FIVE, PROVIDE INTENSIVE HOME VISITATION SERVICES FOLLOWING THESE EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA: GROWING GREAT KIDS AND READY ROSIE. ECS AND POP ALSO FOCUS ON CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS TO IDENTIFY DELAYS AND PREPARE CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN. THE STAFF MAKE REFERRALS FOR INTERVENTION FOR THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY ON TARGET. 557 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITTED FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM DURING 2024.
  2. $1.2 million spent. THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LONG TERM STRATEGIES FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY BY OFFERING HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY (HSE) PREPARATION CLASSES, EMPLOYMENT COACHING, BENEFITS COUNSELING, HOUSING SUPPORTS AND FINANCIAL COACHING AT NOT COST TO CLIENTS. LONGER TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT RETENTION, IMPROVED CREDIT RATINGS, INCREASED NET INCOME AND INCREASED NET WORTH. WHEN APPROPRIATE, FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENROLL FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS AND AREA RESOURCES IN ORDER TO FREE UP CASH IN THE FAMILY BUDGET TO PAY DOWN DEBT, BUILD ASSETS AND EVENTUALLY WORK THEMSELVES OFF OF PUBLIC BENEFITS THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE COACHING. A FINANCIAL COACH ASSISTS CLIENTS IN COMPLETING A FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE MONEY ON THINGS LIKE CHECK CASHING FEES, TAX PREPARATION COSTS, FINANCE CHARGES AND OTHER HIDDEN COSTS WHILE BUILDING SAVINGS THROUGH MATCHED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. DURING 2024, 374 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
  3. $625,383 spent. SANTA MARIA'S SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAMMING HAS THREE BASIC COMPONENTS FOCUSING ON MITIGATING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND PROMOTING FAMILY STABILITY: WELLNESS, IMMIGRANT OUTREACH, AND STABLE FAMILIES. THE WELLNESS COMPONENT ENSURES THAT THE UNDERSERVED INCREASE THEIR USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THIS WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH COMMUNITY IN-KIND SERVICES WITH AGENCY PARTNERS, HEALTH WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, WELLNESS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE, FREE EYE EXAMS/GLASSES, HEARING EXAMS, HIV/AIDS TESTING AND EDUCATION, AND HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT. OF PARTICULAR NOTE, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE NAVIGATION SERVICES TO THE HISPANIC/LATINO AND AFRICAN COMMUNITIES. THE IMMIGRANT OUTREACH COMPONENT PROVIDES GROUP PROGRAMMING AND RESOURCES FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES OF THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA INCLUDING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) CLASSES. SERVICES ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE AT A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY LOCATIONS AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY. WELLNESS & IMMIGRANT OUTREACH SERVED MORE THAN 700 ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN 2024. STABLE FAMILIES, WHICH SERVED 162 FAMILIES IN 2024, FOLLOWS A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE MODEL THROUGH THE SIEMER FAMILY FOUNDATION AND OFFERS DIRECT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN (INCLUDING PRESCHOOL) TO HELP STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING IN ORDER TO PREVENT AVOIDABLE MOVES AND THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING BEING DISRUPTED. ALL THREE COMPONENTS PROVIDE SUPPORT, COACHING, STANDARDIZED SCREENINGS, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION TO PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND THEIR CHILDREN.
  4. $418,259 spent. THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WORKS INTENSIVELY EACH SCHOOL YEAR WITH SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, ENROLLED IN OYLER SCHOOL, A CINCINNATI PUBLIC SCHOOL IN LOWER PRICE HILL. THE PROGRAM USES AN EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL TO OFFER STRUCTURED GROUP FACILITATION FOR YOUTH AND CONSISTENT ADVOCACY FOR THEIR FAMILIES. YOUTH DEVELOP SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES THAT ARE PREDICTIVE OF ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THE PROGRAM ALSO FOCUSES ON A COMMUNITY IMPACT STRATEGY TO PREVENT VIOLENCE BY LEADING THE LOWER PRICE HILL VIOLENCE PREVENTION COLLABORATIVE, WHICH UTILIZES A VARIETY OF BEST-PRACTICE STRATEGIES TO GIVE YOUTH PROTECTIVE FACTORS WHILE REDUCING RISK FACTORS. THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS BASED IN THE JOE WILLIAMS FAMILY CENTER, A COMMUNITY FACILITY WHERE DOZENS OF YOUTH GATHER AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING THE SUMMER TO ENJOY A DIVERSE ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING A SPORTS LEAGUE, BASKETBALL, ART OPPORTUNITIES, MUSIC, DANCE, HEALTHY COOKING, AND MUCH MORE. DURING 2024 THIS PROGRAM SERVED 228 ADULTS AND 317 YOUTH.

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 October 13, 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 July 1973.

    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.