Jewish Family Service of the Desert
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS OF THE JEWISH AND GENERAL COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE GREATER COACHELLA VALLEY WITH A COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE THE WELL BEING OF PERSONS OF ALL AGES, INCOME AND LIFESYTLES.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 6.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 90
- Highest pay
- $131,835, executive di
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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 (2)
- $1.5 million spent. PROVIDED COUNSELING SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SUPPORT AND THERAPY GROUPS, ALL TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY ON A NON-SECTARIAN BASIS. THIS INCLUDES COUNSELING SERVICES FOR PALM SPRINGS UNIFIED AND DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTS' ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. JFS PROVIDED DIRECT SERVICES TO MORE THAN 4,000 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN IN NEED.
- $1.3 million spent. JFS OFFERS MANY ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT COACHELLA VALLEY RESIDENTS. FOR INSTANCE: JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF THE DESERT (JFS) IS A NONSECTARIAN PROVIDER OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO COACHELLA VALLEY RESIDENTS THAT OFFERS SEVERAL LOW- TO NO-COST SERVICES TO HELP STABILIZE HOUSEHOLDS, FINANCIALLY AND MENTALLY. THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR, 17,132 SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 4,045 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS. APPROXIMATELY 55% OF CLIENTS IDENTIFIED AS FEMALE, AND 45% IDENTIFIED AS MALE. ETHNICITY AND RACE DEMOGRAPHICS CLOSELY MIRROR THE COACHELLA VALLEY'S OVERALL DEMOGRAPHICS. APPROXIMATELY 92 AGENCY VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 3,985 VOLUNTEER HOURS. THE JFS AUXILIARY, A GROUP OF SELF-GOVERNED VOLUNTEERS, SUCCESSFULLY COORDINATED ITS ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT, "THE AGING BRAIN," ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2024, AT THE INDIAN WELLS COUNTRY CLUB. AUTHOR AND LECTURER, DR. MARC MILSTEIN, AUTHOR OF "THE AGE-PROOF BRAIN," OFFERED HELPFUL TIPS AND LIFESTYLE ADVICE TO HELP STAVE OFF THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF AGING, HELPING PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTAND HOW TO BETTER RETAIN THEIR COGNITIVE ABILITIES. PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT SUPPORT THE AUXILIARY'S FAMILY GIVING CIRCLE AND THE JFS ANGEL FUND, USED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS. JFS HELPED COORDINATE THE VALLEY'S FIRST "HEALTHY DESERT HEALTHY YOU" ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT, SEPTEMBER 20-21, AT THE WESTIN MISSION HILLS RESORT. THE EVENT, SPONSORED BY THE DESERT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT AND FOUNDATION, PROVIDED UPDATES ON STATE, COUNTY, AND REGIONAL EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SOIL, AIR, AND WATER QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE AREA. THROUGH GENEROUS GRANTS PROVIDED BY THE ANDERSON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION, BIGHORN CARES, CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, CHAMPIONS VOLUNTEER FOUNDATION, CITY OF INDIAN WELLS, CITY OF INDIO, CITY OF PALM DESERT, COETA AND DONALD BARKER FOUNDATION, HOUSTON FAMILY FOUNDATION, THE MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS, AND PHILANTHROPIC GIVERS, APPROXIMATELY 213,304 IN FUNDS WERE DISBURSED FOR EMERGENCY NEEDS FOR THOSE WITH LOW INCOMES. TO HELP REDUCE INCIDENCES OF FRAUD, DISBURSEMENTS WERE MADE DIRECTLY TO VENDORS FOR NECESSITIES SUCH AS OVERDUE RENT AND UTILITIES, FOOD, AND MEDICATIONS. A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE HOUSTON FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTED A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MIZELL CENTER, DESERT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT & FOUNDATION (DHCDF), AND JFS TO OFFER IN-PERSON CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT MIZELL ONCE A WEEK, MAINTAIN A LIST OF CURRENTLY AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AVAILABLE VIA THE DHCDF WEBSITE AND JFS WEBSITE WITH A LINK TO THE CONNECT IE WEBSITE FOR GREATER PROGRAM INFORMATION. THE AGENCY'S MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAM CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL AGENCIES TO PROVIDE NO-COST, NO-WAIT COUNSELING SERVICES TO PARTNER AGENCY CLIENTS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. DURING THE YEAR, JFS PARTNERED WITH SIXTEEN LOCAL AGENCIES, AND 897 NO-COST COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THEIR CLIENTS. FURTHER, JFS OFFERED 56,000 IN CLINICAL SCHOLARSHIPS, MAKING NO-COST CONNECTIONS TO THERAPISTS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNINSURED OR UNABLE TO AFFORD INSURANCE COPAYMENTS. JFS CASE MANAGERS CONTINUED TO HELP RESIDENTS GAIN ACCESS TO AVAILABLE BENEFITS SUCH AS CALFRESH (FOOD STAMPS), LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP), AND MEDI-CAL APPLICATIONS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 2,666 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS WERE PROVIDED WITH 5662 SERVICES. OF THE 2,666 CLIENTS, 667 WERE SENIORS 55+ YEARS OF AGE. JFS CASE MANAGERS ALSO PROVIDED SUPERVISION TO TWO HEALTH CAREER CONNECTION (HCC) INTERNS DURING THEIR 10-WEEK PRECEPTOR PROGRAMS, HELPING TO INFORM FUTURE CARE PROVIDERS ABOUT THE NEEDS FACING MANY OF OUR COACHELLA VALLEY NEIGHBORS. THE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM CONTINUES TO OVERSEE OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INLAND EMPIRE HEALTH PLAN (IEHP) COMMUNITY SUPPORTS PROGRAM BY OFFERING HOUSING NAVIGATION, HOUSING TENANCY, AND HOUSING DEPOSIT SERVICES TO IEHP CLIENTS, AND OUR GOAL REMAINS TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. JFS CASE MANAGERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADJUDICATING REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ARE FURTHER RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR NECESSITIES NOTED EARLIER. IMPORTANTLY, JFS CASE MANAGERS CONTINUED TO ADMINISTER FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO HELP OUR LOCAL HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IN AREAS SUCH AS RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD SECURITY, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, UTILITY PAYMENTS, IN-HOME SUPPORT, AND SOCIALIZATION. TO HELP INCREASE OUR SUCCESS IN FINDING HOUSING FOR CLIENTS, JFS BECAME A VOTING MEMBER OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE (COC). THE COC IS COMPOSED OF DOZENS OF AGENCIES FOCUSED ON THE REDUCTION OF HOMELESSNESS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THE COC IS OFTEN THE RECIPIENT OF GRANT FUNDING THAT IS TO BE USED TO FURTHER THE GROUP'S GOAL OF REDUCING THE COUNTY'S HOMELESS POPULATION. COC MEMBERSHIP ALLOWS JFS TO BID ON AVAILABLE GRANT DOLLARS; MOST LIKELY, JFS WILL BE PARTNERING WITH OTHER COC MEMBERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. JFS REMAINS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE JEWISH PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (JPAC) AND ITS EFFORTS TO WORK WITH THE STATE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS. THROUGH OUR COMBINED EFFORTS, WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATE FOR THE STATE'S APPROVAL OF CONTINUED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS LOCATED IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, JFS CONCLUDED ITS 3-YEAR PROGRAM WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, DISTRIBUTING 283,965 IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF THESE IMPORTANT CLIENTS' RENTAL AND HOA ASSISTANCE, FOOD SUPPORT, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, DENTAL SERVICES, IN-HOME SUPPORT, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, SOCIALIZATION PROGRAMMING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. THE JFS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM CONTINUES TO OFFER SERVICES DESIGNED TO REDUCE ISOLATION IN OUR COMMUNITY, PRIMARILY AMONG OUR SENIORS 55+ YEARS OLD. TO HELP INCREASE OUR REACH, WE HIRED A COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COORDINATOR TO RUN LET'S DO LUNCH, CAFE EUROPA, CAFE EUROPA 2.0, AND TO COORDINATE THE JFS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. THE CAMPERSHIP PROGRAM CON
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 January 1995.
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.
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