Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Therapy Center Inc

EIN 33-0248878 · La Mesa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHALLENGE CENTER IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SKILLED PHYSICAL THERAPY,SPECIALIZED FITNESS AND WELNESS PROGRAMS TO REHABILITATE, RAISE THE LEVELOF INDEPENDENCE, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, ANDSENIORS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS.THE CENTER SERVES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING SPINALCORD INJURY, STROKE, CEREBRAL PALSY, MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, PARKINSON'SDISEASE, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, OR ANY DISEASE STATE THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLYIMPACTED A PERSON'S LEVEL OF FUNCTION. THE CENTER WORKS VIGOROUSLY TOPROVIDE AFFORDABLE LONG-TERM PHYSICAL REHABILITATION TO THOSE WHO HAVESURVIVED CATASTROPHIC INJURY OR ILLNESS BY DELIVERING QUALITY CLINICALSERVICES ON AN INCOME-BASED, SLIDING FEE SCALE, OFFERING VITAL OPTIONS FORCARE. CHALLENGE CENTER: RESTORING HEALTH, PROVIDING HOPE AND TRANSFORMINGLIVES.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
17
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$170,865, 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

Fair: 54 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% 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 December 31, 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

    7 of 7 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 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 (2)
  1. $398,623 spent. EXTENDED PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM SERVICES: TREATS PERSONS WITHDISABILITIES AND SENIORS AFTER THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE IS EXHAUSTED, FORTHE LENGTH OF TIME NEEDED TO FULLY MAXIMIZE FUNCTION AND PROVIDES THEMEDICAL AND EXPERT SUPPORT MEDICALLY COMPLEX/DISABLED PERSONS REQUIRE TOPARTICIPATE IN AN EFFECTIVE EXERCISE PROGRAM. OVER 97% OF PHYSICAL THERAPYCLIENTS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS THEIR FUNCTIONAL GOALS. ASCLIENTS INCREASE THEIR INDEPENDENCE, FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD TO LEAVETHEIR JOBS TO CARE FOR LOVED-ONES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESUME THEIR LIVES ANDRETURN TO WORK. MOTHERS ARE ENABLED TO INDEPENDENTLY CARE FOR THEIRCHILDREN AND END COSTLY DAYCARE. ELDERLY COUPLES AND SINGLES ARE ABLE TOSTAY AND ENJOY THEIR GOLDEN YEARS IN THEIR OWN HOME.
  2. $740,365 spent. HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE: ASSISTED FITNESS, BALANCEAND CONDITIONING CLASSES, AQUATICS, YOGA, AND MORE FOR LIFELONG HEALTH ANDFUNCTION. DURING THE PAST YEAR, 96% OF THE CENTER'S CLIENTS REPORTEDIMPROVEMENTS IN ONE OR MORE AREAS OF FUNCTION, FITNESS LEVEL, PSYCHOLOGICALWELL-BEING, AND/OR QUALITY OF LIFE. ALSO, OVER 97 %OF BALANCE CLASSPARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT OF THE 10 METER WALK TEST -A KEY INDICATOR OF FALL RISK AND OVERALL LEVEL OF FUNCTION. THE EFFECTS OFOUR PROGRAM DO NOT END AT OUR DOORWAY. THE POSITIVE RIPPLE EFFECTS AREFAR-REACHING AND EXTEND THE BENEFITS TO MANY MORE INDIVIDUALS IN THECOMMUNITY. THROUGH BETTER FITNESS, FUNCTION, AND WELLNESS, SENIORS ANDPERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE EMPOWERED TO SECURE THE FREEDOM TO WORK,LEARN, AND ENGAGE IN THEIR FAMILIES' COMMUNITIES.

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

  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 2025.

    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 1988.

    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.