Community Alternatives Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE RESPONSIVE, PERSON-CENTERED SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
- Income
- $13.2 million
- Spending
- $15.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 342
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $246,810, chief executive officer
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: 32 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 79% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
- $7.4 million spent. VIRGINIA PROGRAMS:(1) WORK PROGRAMS - THE WORK PROGRAMS, ALSO REFERRED TO AS SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION WHO PROVIDE PRIMARY ASSEMBLY AND FOOD SERVICE.THE WORK PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT.COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES, INC. (CAI) SURVEYS ITS EMPLOYEES AND STRIVES TO ENSURE EACH CONSUMER HAS A NUMBER OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM IN EACH LEVEL OF SUPPORT. WORK PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT FIT THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL SERVED.CAI GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS PROVIDES FOOD SERVICE AT THE LITTLE CREEK GALLEY.BEACH PACKAGING IS CAI'S SHELTERED WORKSHOP. IT IS A SMALL BUSINESS SPECIALIZING IN PACKAGING AND SUB-ASSEMBLY. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE SKILL ASSESSMENT, JOB DEVELOPMENT, JOB TRAINING, WORK ADJUSTMENT AND SELF-HELP SKILLS. ALL TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT OFFERED AT THE WORK PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE PRIMARY MISSION OF EMPLOYABILITY.(2) IN-HOME SERVICES - CAI PROVIDES IN-HOME SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, OFTEN COUPLED WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. REFERRALS ARE RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE TIDEWATER AREA, INCLUDING VIRGINIA BEACH, NORFOLK, CHESAPEAKE, PORTSMOUTH, HAMPTON, NEWPORT NEWS AND WILLIAMSBURG.THE IN-HOME PROGRAM OFFERS CUSTOMIZED LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WHO RESIDE IN THEIR OWN HOMES. FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS ALSO OBTAIN GREAT BENEFITS FROM THIS ASSISTANCE. THE SCHEDULES OF THE DROP-IN STAFF SUPPORT DEPEND ON THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED, AND MAY RANGE IN FREQUENCY AND DURATION FROM INTENSIVE DAILY CONTACT TO WEEKLY SUPPORT VISITS.VARIOUS TYPES OF ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT ARE OFFERED BY STAFF AND MAY VARY FROM ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING TO COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND LINKAGE, SOCIALIZATION ACTIVITIES, MEDICATION ASSISTANCE, HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING, AND ASSISTANCE WITH BEHAVIORAL TRAINING AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES. SUPPORT STAFF MAY ALSO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS AND COMMUNITY OUTINGS AS NEEDED.(3) DAY PROGRAMS - OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED DAY PROGRAM (OUDP) IS A DAY SUPPORT MODEL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BOTH CENTERED-BASED AND COMMUNITY-BASED EXPERIENCES FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES AND/OR SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES.THE MODEL ENCOURAGES SUCCESS BY OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONALLY STRUCTURED PROGRAMS. ITS FOCUS IS TO INCREASE SATISFACTION BY SUPPORTING CHOICE AND PERSONAL PREFERENCES, AND THEREFORE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT CONDUCTIVE TO POSITIVE COMMUNICATION AND GRATIFICATION.OUDP PROVIDES DAY SUPPORT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS FROM SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA. TWO DAY PROGRAM SITES--ONE IN VIRGINIA BEACH AND THE OTHER IN NEWPORT NEWS--CATER TO THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NEED OF EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO ATTENDS.(4) RESIDENTIAL SERVICES - RESIDENTIAL SERVICES OFFER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOOD HOMES THROUGHOUT THE TIDEWATER AREA INCLUDING VIRGINIA BEACH, NORFOLK, CHESAPEAKE, PORTSMOUTH, HAMPTON AND NEWPORT NEWS.THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PROVIDES WARM, NURTURING HOMES FOR UP TO FIVE ADULTS WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF MENTAL RETARDATION AND CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS. THE HOMES ARE STAFFED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CARE NEEDED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL. INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PLANS ARE JOINTLY DEVELOPED BY EACH CONSUMER AND THEIR SUPPORT TEAM.CAI SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY DISPLAY CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS. TYPICALLY, EACH INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE VIRGINIA MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE FOR OPERATING THE RESIDENTIAL HOMES. PRIVATE PAY ARRANGEMENTS CAN ALSO BE MADE FOR CONSUMERS WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF SUPPORTIVE CARE.THE HOMES PROVIDE COMMUNITY BASED LIVING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENT. CAI PROTECTS AND SUPPORTS THE RIGHTS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE CHOICES BASED ON PREFERENCES, TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND TO ENJOY LIFE TO ITS FULLEST.(5) SUPPORTIVE LIVING AND HOUSING - SUPPORTIVE LIVING & HOUSING SERVICES PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE DAILY LIVING AND SAFETY NEEDS OF PERSONS WHO REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ROOM AND BOARD EXPENSE. SUPPORTED LIVING ENVIRONMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE OR FEWER PERSONS IN AN UNSUPERVISED, INDEPENDENT HOUSING SETTING. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTED LIVING THROUGH GRANT FUNDING, THE MEDICAID OR DD WAIVER PROGRAM AND FOLLOW-ALONG SERVICES WHICH ARE PROVIDED THROUGH CITY FUNDS TO ADULTS REQUIRING PERIODIC SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
- $6.2 million spent. NORTH CAROLINA PROGRAMS:(1) C.A.S.C.A.D.E. SERVICES - COMMUNITY ATLERNATIVES, INC. (DOING BUSINESS AS COMMUNITY CHOICES, INC. IN NORTH CAROLINA) OPERATES THE C.A.S.C.A.D.E. PROGRAM IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. C.A.S.C.A.D.E. PROVIDES SERVICES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT AND/OR PARENTING. C.A.S.C.A.D.E. IS AN ACRONYM FOR COURAGE AND SUPPORT FOR CHANGING ATTITUDES, DEPENDENCIES AND ENVIRONMENTS. C.A.S.C.A.D.E. IS A HOLISTIC, GENDER-SPECIFIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR PREGNANT, POSTPARTUM AND PARENTING ADULT WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE PURPOSE OF C.A.S.C.A.D.E. IS TO SUPPORT WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE AND THEIR CHILDREN BY INTERRUPTING THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION, DECREASING THE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY THAT IS RELATED TO SUBSTANCE MISUSE, INCREASING POSITIVE BIRTH OUTCOMES, DECREASING THE COST OF HEALTH CARE, AND PROMOTING WELL FAMILIES THROUGH HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.C.A.S.C.A.D.E.'S VISION IS TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE, WHO ARE AT-RISK FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, AND THEIR CHILDREN, HAVE EASY ACCESS AND CHOICES FROM A COMPREHENSIVE, HUMANE, SEAMLESS SYSTEM OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDE THE NEEDED CAPACITY FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS, TREATMENT, AND AFTERCARE WHICH PRODUCE CONSUMERS WITH A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE FUTURE.THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREATMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN OF CARE THAT IS ABSTINENCE FOCUSED, STRENGTH BASED, SUPPORTS A 12-STEP PHILOSOPHY AND TEACHES THE 16 STEPS. IN SUPPORT OF THE VISION STATEMENT, THE PROGRAM PURSUES SEAMLESS ACCESS INTO SERVICES, HEALTHY OUTCOMES FOR MOTHER, CHILD AND NECESSARY LIFE SKILLS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE MOTHER AND CHILD AS A FAMILY UNIT.THE CONTINUUM OF CARE INCLUDES: IN-HOME SUBSTANCE ABUSE ASSESSMENT AND INTAKE, THERAPEUTIC CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH CARE (PRENATAL, POSTPARTUM CARE, WELL BABY, CHILD, AND ADULT CARE), CHILD CARE, TRANSPORTATION, PARENTING CLASSES, LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, RESIDENTIAL BEDS (SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM) AND SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING. C.A.S.C.A.D.E. OFFERS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM (THREE HOURS PER DAY). TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDCARE ARE PROVIDED FOR THE WOMEN IN THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS TO RECEIVING SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. PRIMARY MEDICAL AND PEDIATRIC CARE IS COORDINATED THROUGH CAROLINAS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OR PRESBYTERIAN HEALTH SYSTEM. THE TREATMENT PROGRAM HAS THE CAPACITY TO SERVE 50 WOMEN PER DAY. C.A.S.C.A.D.E. SERVICES PROGRAM OPERATES 36 RESIDENTIAL BEDS FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 11.(2) CASA WORKS - THE CASA WORKS PROGRAM IS A SPECIAL GRANT UNDER THE C.A.S.C.A.D.E. SERVICES PROGRAM THAT TARGETS THE MOST DIFFICULT TO SERVE WORK FIRST POPULATION, WOMEN WHO ARE SUBSTANCE ABUSERS WITH LIMITED JOB SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP WORK FIRST WOMEN BECOME ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT THROUGH THE PROVISION OF AN INTEGRATED GENDER-SPECIFIC SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND JOB READINESS, TRAINING/EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. THE CASA WORKS PROGRAM PROVIDES A CONCURRENT 20-WEEK SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM AND A 12-MONTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO: 1) ADDRESS SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 2) IMPROVE PARENTING SKILLS, 3) PROVIDE A STRUCTURED LIVING ENVIRONMENT, 4) TEACH JOB READINESS SKILLS, AND 5) PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE ATMOSPHERE DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF EMPLOYMENT. TRANSPORTATION, MEALS AND CHILDCARE ARE ALSO PROVIDED.(3) STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM - THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM (SFP) IS ALSO A SPECIAL GRANT UNDER THE C.A.S.C.A.D.E. SERVICES PROGRAM AND IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY CHANGE IN THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE IT INVOLVES NOT JUST THE PARENTS OR CHILDREN ALONE, BUT THE WHOLE FAMILY. THE SFP IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT WAS DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN OF ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSING PARENTS. THE PROGRAM TARGETS TWO AGE GROUPS: 6-11 YEAR OLDS AND 12-15 YEAR OLDS. A SIT DOWN DINNER IS PROVIDED AT EACH SESSION FOR THE PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN ARE SPILT INTO SEPARATE GROUPS FOR THE FIRST HOUR AND ARE TAUGHT THE SAME SKILLS. DURING THE SECOND HOUR, THE FAMILY UNIT IS BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER TO PRACTICE THE NEW SKILLS. THE GOAL OF THE SFP IS TO REDUCE RISK FACTORS IN BOTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AREAS AND TO PROVIDE FAMILY-BASED AND BEHAVIORALLY-ORIENTED PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS IN REDUCING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE RISK STATUS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS LIVING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSING PARENT OR PARENTS.
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 February 1981.
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.