Sarahs Circle
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SARAH'S CIRCLE PROVIDES A FULL CONTINUUM OF SERVICES FOR WOMEN, INCLUDING HOUSING, LIFE NECESSITIES, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, TO HELP THEM PERMANENTLY END THEIR HOMELESSNESS.
- Income
- $10.0 million
- Spending
- $7.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 11.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 49%
- Employees
- 73
- Volunteers
- 330
- Highest pay
- $257,086, executive 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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $2.9 million spent. INTERIM HOUSING - EVERY DAY THE INTERIM HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES INCLUDING SHELTER AND 24-HOUR ACCESS TO 50 WOMEN WHO ARE CURRENTLY HOMELESS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO HELP WOMEN MOVE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING COORDINATION, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES TAILORED TO THE STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
- $2.6 million spent. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO WOMEN WHO HAVE A DISABLING CONDITION WHO HAVE BEEN CHRONICALLY HOMELESS. SOME WOMEN IN THIS PROGRAM WERE HOMELESS FOR OVER A DECADE BEFORE BEING HOUSED. EACH WOMAN IN THE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED WITH A HOUSING SUBSIDY, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HELP HER IMPROVE HER HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THIS TYPE OF HOUSING HAS BEEN PROVEN TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR THE MOST DIFFICULT TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS AND REDUCE PUBLIC COSTS FOR JAILS, EMERGENCY ROOMS, AND OTHER CRISIS SERVICES. IN 2020, SARAH'S CIRCLE IMPLEMENTED A RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM, FUNDED VIA CARES FUNDS, IS DESIGNED TO MOVE CLIENTS QUICKLY FROM HOMELESSNESS TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
- $650,690 spent. DAYTIME SUPPORT CENTER - THE DAYTIME SUPPORT CENTER IS A SAFE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ANY WOMAN IN NEED, WHETHER STREET HOMELESS,DOUBLED UP WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY, FORMERLY HOMELESS, STRUGGLING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OR SIMPLY LOW INCOME AND IN NEED OF COMMUNITY. SERVICES INCLUDE BASIC NECESSITIES, SUCH AS FOOD, BATHROOMS, SHOWERS,LAUNDRY, TELEPHONE, COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET ACCESS, AND AN ADDRESS FOR MAIL; EDUCATIONAL AND GENERAL INTEREST PROGRAMMING ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS; INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT; AND HOUSING COORDINATION.
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 November 6, 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 April 1979.
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 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.