Peers Envisioning & Engaging in Recovery Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PEERS mission is to build a diverse community of people with mental health experiences who provide culturally responsive, peer-based wellness strategies and work together to eliminate stigma and discrimination.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 95%
- Employees
- 41
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $124,367, finance 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
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 51% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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 (1)
- $2.4 million spent. Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services (PEERS) Program Description and AccomplishmentsFY 2024-2025From July 2024 through June 2025, PEERS served a diverse group of 996 unduplicated participants across all of our programs, plus an additional 3,300 people reached through outreach, speaking engagement events, and webinars, whose names we did not capture. Peer support groups are the core of our work. In 2024-25, we offered 392 peer support group sessions, including:Taking Action for Whole Health and Wellbeing: Following an evidence-based curriculum, peers share stories, ideas and insights and come up with a personal plan for getting well and staying well.Youth Collective: Leadership development and wellness for young people.Buried in Treasures: An evidence-based curriculum focuses on support and skill-building to give participants tools to manage moderate to severe hoarding/cluttering.Special Messages: Peer support around hearing voices and receiving other messages that others dont.Hope & Faith: Peer support around wellness among members of African American faith communities.Healing Our Past and Expectations (HOPE): Peer support wellness groups adapted by and for Asian Americans from an evidence-based curriculum.Latine Community Mental Wellness: Peer support wellness groups adapted by and for Latine communities from an evidence-based curriculum.Black Wellness and Resilience: Peer support wellness groups adapted by and for African Americans from an evidence-based curriculum.Impact example: 92% of PEERS participants reported that the group or workshop helped them have hope.Participants gain new information, skills, and tools to support their wellness through PEERS programs. In 2024-25, we offered 79 workshops and presentations, served 53 older adults through individual services, and reached 316 community members with anti-stigma speaking engagements, including:Transition-age youth wellness workshops: Youth-developed workshops on multiple topics.Other wellness workshops: Presented where community members gather; topics included youth mental health, the SAMHSA Eight Dimensions of Wellness, spirituality and peer support, and more.Lift Every Voice and Speak: Speakers bureau members tell their recovery stories in the community.Program for Encouraging Active and Rewarding Lives (PEARLS): A holistic, evidence-based service focused on skill building and problem-solving that supports isolated older adults who have depression.Impact example: 93% of participants see themselves using what they learned from PEERS in the future and 92% understand more about their mental health and wellness.Leadership development among people with mental health challenges combats internalized stigma. In 2024-25, PEERS offered the following leadership development opportunities:Lift Every Voice and Speak: Speakers bureau members develop public speaking and advocacy skills and tell their stories in the community.Taking Action Facilitator Training and Mentoring: Certification and ongoing support for peers leading Taking Action groups.Everyone Counts Campaign: Latine Community Mental Wellness Fellows group plans and leads anti-stigma efforts.Impact example: 85% reported that they feel better about their life as a result of PEERS services.Positive images and stories about people with mental health experiences help change community members attitudes. In 2024-25, PEERS reached 316 community members through anti-stigma speaking engagements:Lift Every Voice and Speak: Speakers bureau members tell their stories in the community.Media: Email blasts, blog posts, social media, and traditional media stories countering stigma.Community Outreach: Disseminating anti-stigma messages through visibility at community events.Impact example: 95% of audience members in speakers bureau presentations reported that after the presentation, they feel people with mental health experiences can grow, change, and recover.Peers Organizing Community Change (POCC)Peers Organizing Community Change (POCC) is a group of mental health consumer advocates. PEERS provided fiscal and administration support that included logistics for POCC members to attend the annual conferences and provided assistance to coordinate POCC meetings, conferences, and other events.
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 April 2002.
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.