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Community Life Services

EIN 45-4572745 · Santa Cruz, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMUNITY LIFE SERVICES EXISTS TO BUILD EQUITABLE SYSTEMS WHERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LIVE, WORK, AND BELONG IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED, COMMUNITY-FOCUSED SERVICES THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND FULL PARTICIPATION IN EVERYDAY LIFE..

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
43
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$133,534, executive dir.

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. 2023-2024 CONTINUED TO BE ANOTHER CHALLENGING YEAR ACCLIMATED WITH CHANGING RULES RELATED TO HEALTH SAFEGUARDS AND FIRE AND FLOOD EMERGENCIES THAT CONTINUED TO IMPACT OUR OPERATIONS AND OUR COMMUNITIES INTO 2024. OUR CLIENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF HAVE ALL CONTINUED TO WORK AND ADAPT. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A HYBRID OF SERVICES TO MAINTAIN SERVICE UTILIZATION AND REGULAR SUPPORT SCHEDULES FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES. CLIENTS CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE A MIXTURE OF SERVICE MODALITIES TO MEET THEIR TRADING AND INDEPENDENCE NEEDS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE CONTINUED PROVIDING IN-PERSON SERVICES WITH A COMPLEMENT OF VIRTUAL SERVICES WHEN REQUESTED BY CLIENTS. WE PROVIDED ONGOING SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 150 ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION, EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT, EMPLOYMENT RETENTION, AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AN EXTENSIVE WAITLIST FOR SERVICES WITH NO MOVEMENT AS IT WILL REQUIRE INCREASING OUR TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND OUR CHALLENGES TO FIND AND RETAIN STAFFING HAS INCREASED DUE TO THE COST OF LIVING IN OUR COUNTRY. FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THIS EMPLOYMENT MARKET IN OUR AREA CONTINUED TO BE POSITIVE THROUGH 2023-2024 ALTHOUGH THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING HAS IMPACTED ALL STAKEHOLDERS. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE SUPPORT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE INTERNSHIPS AND ACHIEVE PAID JOBS DUE TO THE LACK OF WORKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, DUE TO LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MANY OF OUR CLIENTS AND OUR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT ABLE TO MOVE OR CHANGE WHERE THEY ARE LIVING DUE TO A SHORTAGE IN HOUSING THEY CAN AFFORD. ANOTHER YEAR OF CHALLENGES, WE CAN TAKE PRIDE IN THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR STAFF. A SUSTAINED SHORTAGE IN THE LOCAL WORKFORCE HAS MEANT THAT EMPLOYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN VERY EAGER TO WORK WITH US TO EOMPLOY A LARGER DIVERSITY OF WORERS, WHICH MEANS THAT PEOPLE WE SUPPORT ARE GETTING JOBS FASTER THAN PRIOR YEARS IN THE MARKET.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Vip Community Services Inc (Bronx, NY), EIN 13-3224700. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.