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Southern California American Indian Resource Center Inc

EIN 33-0798087 · El Cajon, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood73 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE NATIVE AMERICAN LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION WITH PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 62%
Employees
20
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$78,185, exe. director

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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 93% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (5)
  1. $598,629 spent. NATIVE NETWORKS PROGRAM - SCAIR PROVIDE CAREER TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND COUNSELLING SERVICES.
  2. $273,095 spent. TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) PROGRAM : THROUGH A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBAL CHAIRMEN'S ASSOCIATION (SCTCA), SCAIR PROVIDES TRIBAL TANF (TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES) PROGRAM SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE TRIBAL TANF PARTICIPANTS. TRIBAL TANF TRAINING PROGRAM SERVICES OFFERED ARE CAREER TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, AND SPECIALIZED WORKSHOPS AND PIECES OF TRAINING.
  3. $152,709 spent. SCAIR AIEC (AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION CENTER) PROGRAM, PROVIDES ACADEMIC TUTORIAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES TO NATIVE AMERICAN/ ALASKA NATIVE/ HAWAIIAN NATIVE STUDENTS (K-12) AND THEIR PARENTS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON-SITE AT THE SCAIR RESOURCE CENTER IN EL CAJON, AS WELL ASAT THE BALLARD PARENT CENTER IN OLD TOWN AND INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WITHIN THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (SDUSD), THROUGH SCAIRS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SDUSDS TITLE VI INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM.
  4. $112,869 spent. THE HOWKA CSBG PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A SUBCONTRACT WITH THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIAN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN EUREKA, CA. THROUGH HOWKA, ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS LIVING IN SAN DIEGO, IMPERIAL AND VENURA COUNTIES MAY RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH FOOD VOUCHERS, CLOTHING AND OTHER EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES. ANNUALLY, SCAIR PROVIDES OVER 500 FOOD BOXES TO FAMILIES ENROLLED ON THE HOWKA PROGRAM DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
  5. $42,637 spent. SACRED PIPE TOBACCO-USE PREVENTION EDUCATION (TUPE) PROGRAM : THE SACRED PIPE TUPE PROGRAM PROVIDES FACT-BASED, RESEARCH-VALIDATED PREVENTION EDUCATION AND SMOKING CESSATION SERVICES. THE PROGRAM ALSO SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON MESSAGING REGARDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL AND CEREMONIAL NATIVE TOBACCO-USE VERSUS COMMERCIAL TOBACCO-USE.TEENS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM LEARN ABOUT HOW COMMERCIAL TOBACCO AFFECTS HEALTH, HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AND ADDRESS PEER PRESSURE, TOBACCO

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.