Lakewood Community Services Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER, INC. PROVIDES BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE, PERSONALIZED RESOURCES AND REFERRAL SERVICES WITH THE GOAL TO EMPOWER EACH INDIVIDUAL TO MOVE TOWARD GREATER SELF SUFFICIENCY.
- Income
- $838,231
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 61%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 26
- Highest pay
- $123,378, executive director
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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 49% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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 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)
- $214,826 spent. LCSC IS THE POINT OF ACCESS FOR LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD'S HUD EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT (ESG) FUNDS FOR RENT AND/OR UTILITY CASH ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS FOR HOUSEHOLDS AT IMMINENT RISK. LCSC'S LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ON A WALK-IN BASIS. A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES IS PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE. CASE MANAGEMENT IS PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF ELIGIBILITY.
- $445,533 spent. LCSC DELIVERS A THREE DAY SUPPLY OF FOOD TWICE EVERY MONTH TO THOSE IN NEED, AS WELL AS ONCE A MONTH TO SENIORS WHO RECEIVE DOOR-TO-DOOR EMERGENCY FOOD DELIVERY TO FOUR SUBSIDIZED SENIOR APARTMENTS IN LAKEWOOD AND ONE IN ROCKY RIVER. EACH THREE DAY SUPPLY OF FOOD INCLUDES SHELF-STABLE STAPLES AS WELL AS BREAD AND FRESH FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND PROTEIN, AS AVAILABLE. PERSONAL CARE ITEMS ARE ALSO PROVIDED WHEN AVAILABLE.
- $268,000 spent. LCSC IS THE POINT OF ACCESS FOR LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD'S HUD HOME TENANT BASED RENT ASSISTANCE (TBRA) PROGRAM FOR RENT AND/OR UTILITY CASH ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS FOR HOUSEHOLDS AT IMMINENT RISK.
- $27,778 spent. LCSC IS THE POINT OF ACCESS FOR LOW/MODERATE INCOME LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD'S HUD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS. CASE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE BY LCSC LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS RANGES FROM ONE REFERRAL TO AN AGENCY THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO MAINSTREAM BENEFITS, REFERRALS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ONGOING INTERVENTIONS REGARDING HOUSING STABILITY, ETC. MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND COUNSELING WAS PROVIDED REMOTELY BY LCSC'S PARTNER, MURTIS TAYLOR HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM.
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
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 December 2024.
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 1985.
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.