San Diego Second Chance Program
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO DISRUPT THE CYCLES OF INCARCERATION AND POVERTY BY HELPING PEOPLE TOWARDS EMPOWERED SELF-SUFFICIENCY
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -12 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 80%
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $148,500, 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
Weak: 22 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 84% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $382,758 spent. YOUTH SERVICES:STRIVE FUTURE LEADERS FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING AND ADDRESSING THE EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS FACED BY COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH WHILE HELPING THEM ATTAIN LIFE-SKILLS AND IN-DEMAND OCCUPATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS NEEDED TO OBTAIN LIVABLE WAGE JOBS. THE SECOND CHANCE YOUTH GARDEN PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE (14-21) WITH A SUPPORTIVE, STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT THAT HELPS TO PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS IN THE JOB MARKET, HIGH SCHOOL, AND HIGHER EDUCATION. THROUGH PAID TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT, YOUTH RECEIVE JOB READINESS TRAINING, LEARN POSITIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND ENGAGE IN LEADERSHIP TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH HANDS-ON, GARDEN-BASED EDUCATION, YOUTH LEARN TO SEED, CULTIVATE AND HARVEST THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR AND SHARE THIS BOUNTY WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FARM STANDS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY JUVENILE COURT AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, THE PROGRAM COMBINES IN-CLASS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TO INCREASE YOUTH AWARENESS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD JUSTICE AND HELP MOVE THEM TOWARDS SUCCESSFUL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. THE YOUTHOFFENDER REHABILITATION PROGRAM USES EVIDENCE BASED CURRICULA AND COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL TRAINING TO AID INCARCERATED YOUTH.
- $2.2 million spent. COLLABORATIVE COURT PROGRAMS: COLLABORATIVE COURT PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO THEIR COMMUNITY."
- $975,640 spent. HOUSING:THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES FIVE SOBER LIVING PROPERTIES. GOALS ARE TO FOSTER PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, RESTORE SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND ELIMINATE ISOLATION BY CREATING A COMMUNITY ATMOSPHERE WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF STAYING CLEAN AND SOBER WHILE TRANSITIONING TO INDEPENDENT LIVING.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1993.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.