Big Five Community Services Inc
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
BIG FIVE WAS ORGANIZED UNDER THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 1964 TO COOPERATE AND ASSIST GOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE AGENCIES TO IDENTIFY, ADDRESS, AND ERADICATE THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF POVERTY WITHIN ITS SERVICE AREA. BIG FIVE PROVIDES SERVICES SUCH AS: HEAD START, TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING.
- Income
- $19.2 million
- Spending
- $20.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 92%
- Employees
- 316
- Volunteers
- 4,300
- Highest pay
- $205,607, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $13.0 million spent. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM - PREPARES CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL BY PROVIDING BASIC SKILLS. THE AGES OF THE CHILDREN RANGE FROM 0-5 YEARS OLD. THE GOAL IS TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR READINESS FOR SCHOOL BY HELPING THEM GROW MENTALLY, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND PHYSICALLY. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FREE MEALS TO IMPROVE NUTRITION AND ALSO PROVIDES FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES. A TOTAL OF 1,158 CHILDREN, INFANTS, AND TODDLERS WERE FUNDED, 1,056 HEAD START AND 102 EARLY HEAD START, IN 83 CLASSROOMS OF WHICH 37 WERE IN COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN THE 23 COUNTY SERVICE AREA.
- $451,947 spent. HOUSING - PROVIDES HOUSING TO PERSONS OF LOW AND MODERATE INCOME, SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) AS TO RENTAL CHARGES AND OPERATING METHODS. QUALIFYING TENANTS ARE CHARGED A REDUCED RENT.
- $1.4 million spent. TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM - PROVIDES LOW-COST TRANSIT SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME, ELDERLY, AND HANDICAP PERSONS TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO JOBS, SCHOOLS, MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, MEAL SITES, AND SHOPPING. THIS PROGRAM HAS A FLEET OF OVER 36 VEHICLES RANGING IN SIZE FROM 20-PASSENGER TO 4-PASSENGER ADA MICRO BUSES AND ALL SORT VEHICLES IN THE FLEET ARE ADA EQUIPPED. FOR 2024, THERE WAS OVER 275,365 MILES DRIVEN TO SERVE 43,335 PASSENGER TRIPS IN A 4-COUNTY AREA.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 March 1972.
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.