California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CALIFORNIA CASA WAS FOUNDED IN 1987. ITS MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS HAVE BOTH A VOICE AND THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO THRIVE. WE ACHIEVE THIS BY STRENGTHENING AND EMPOWERING CALIFORNIAS NETWORK OF LOCAL CASA PROGRAMS AND ADVOCATING FOR EFFECTIVE CHILD WELFARE POLICIES AND PRACTICES.
- Income
- $20.4 million
- Spending
- $20.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 89%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $279,302, ceo
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: 52 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 75% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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)
- $18.8 million spent. CALIFORNIA CASA IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT CORPORATION SUPPORTED BY A BALANCED MIX OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GRANTS AND PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS. WE WORK ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT A NETWORK OF 44 LOCAL CASA PROGRAMS IN 53 COUNTIES AND STRENGTHEN THE SCOPE, QUALITY, AND IMPACT OF ADVOCACY BY THE CASA NETWORK. THESE ADVOCACY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN THE DEPENDENCY AND JUVENILE JUSTICE COURTS, USING TRAINED CASA VOLUNTEERS.THROUGH A RIGOROUS GRANT PROGRAM, WE DISTRIBUTE STATE FUNDS TO THE CASA NETWORK TO STABILIZE AND STRENGTHEN LOCAL PROGRAMS OPERATIONS AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CASAS PROVIDED TO CHILDREN IN NEED. WE PROVIDE LOCAL CASA PROGRAMS WITH PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL TRAININGS AND CURRICULA, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MARKETING AND FUNDRAISING SUPPORT, AND OTHER RESOURCES.WE IDENTIFY AND PURSUE STRATEGIC ALLIANCES THAT LEVERAGE AND INCREASE CHILDRENSRESOURCES STATEWIDE; EXPANDING PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN CALIFORNIAS FOSTER CARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS; ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED CHILD WELFARE PRACTICES AND POLICIES; AND PROMOTE CASA AS AN EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFICIENT, COMPASSIONATE MODEL TO ENSURE THAT CHILDRENS BEST INTERESTS ARE MET, THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD, AND THEIR HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS ARE SUPPORTED.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.