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Volar Center for Indendent Living

EIN 74-2421976 · El Paso, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VOLAR CIL IS AN ORGANIZATION OF AND FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ADVOCATING HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, COMMUNITY OPTIONS, AND EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO LIVE THE LIVES THEY CHOOSE.

Income
$867,718
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
19
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$47,300, cfo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 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)
  1. $1.1 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION COUNSELS INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN ORDER TO ASSIST THEM IN DEVELOPING INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TO ENABLE THEM TO BECOME SELF-SUSTAINING, PROVIDES PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS AND OTHER SERVICES TO THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND PROVIDES SERVICES WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER.
  2. $90,201 spent. THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING (DHHS) PROGRAM OUTREACHES STATEWIDE TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING, AS WELL AS ASSISTING AGENCIES AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SERVE THESE CONSUMERS. THE PROGRAM, WHICH OPERATES THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL/REGIONAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, OFFERS SERVICES IN EACH OF THE 11 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES REGIONS OF THE STATE. THE DHHS SPECIALIST TEAM WITH DARS COUNSELORS AND OTHER DARS AGENCY STAFF TO ENSURE QUALITY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE TARGETED POPULATION.REGIONALLY BASED SPECIALISTS ASSIST CONSUMERS IN GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED FROM STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, EMPLOYERS AND PRIVATE ENTITIES WHILE ADVOCATING WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES TO REMOVE COMMUNICATION BARRIERS TO RENDER MORE ACCESS TO THE TARGETED GROUPS AND REFERRAL SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 August 1986.

    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 November 4, 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.