Pathways to Independence
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO SEEK GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND SOCIAL SUCCESS.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $989,131
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 19.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $155,543, 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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 2512 of 12 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 (1)
- $775,643 spent. PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE PROVIDES SOCIAL INTERACTION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TRAINING TO INDIVIDUALS WHOSE SOCIAL COMPETENCIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY COMPLEX LEARNING DISABILITIES AND ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS. THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS AND IMPLEMENTS SOCIAL AND PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS TO HELP PARTICIPATES INTEGRATE MORE INDEPENDENTLY INTO COMMUNITY LIFE. THE PROGRAM IS DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES THAT LEAD TO 20-30 EVENTS PER MONTH WHERE PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO INTERACT AT MORE EFFECTIVE AND AGE-APPROPRIATE LEVELS UNDER THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF ORGANIZATION STAFF. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT UNDER SOCIAL COLLEGE, SELF-DIRECTED PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING UNDER SOCIAL FOCUS, AND GENERALIZATION OF SKILLS IN THE COMMUNITY UNDER SOCIAL GROWTH. THE PROGRAM DESIGN UTILIZES THE LEISURE AND EDUCATION MODELS TO FACILITATE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. SKILLS INFLUENCED THROUGH PARTICIPATION INCLUDE A VARIETY OF VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS AS WELL AS AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF SOFT SKILLS THAT AID IN EACH PERSON FULLY ENGAGING THEIR COMMUNITY, BUILDING MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH FRIENDSHIP, EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS, AS WELL AS THE ACQUISITION OF, AND RETENTION OF EMPPLOYMENT INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, ADVANCED PLANNING, TIME MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY SAFETY, FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS, SOCIAL INTERACTION TREAINING, ADVOCACY TRAINING, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, MONEY MANAGEMENT, AND TRAINING IN HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES SUCH AS EXERCISE, MONITORING CALORIES, FOOD CHOICES, HYGIENE, AND MUCH MORE.
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 1989.
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.