Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
With love, respect and compassion, the Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra provide essential services and transitional support to people experiencing the injustice of homelessness and extreme poverty.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 45
- Volunteers
- 675
- Highest pay
- $110,650, 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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 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 (4)
- $135,224 spent. Dorothy's Drop-In CenterThe mission of Franciscan Workers and the goal of Dorothy's Place programs is to provide basic needs, essential services and transitional support that move people that are chronically homeless into housing. We serve clients that have multiple barriers and disabilities. Commonly, 90% of our clients require mental health or addiction intervention. We continue to focus on basic needs, safe shelter, transitional programming and data gathering and research that not only creates an evidence base that informs our services, but also stimulates community discussion on the greatest challenge of assisting chronically homeless people into housing, that of meeting unaddressed health needs. We provide healthcare coordination through CalAIAM where homeless, marginalized, and others who are our clients can meet basic hygiene needs (shower & laundry), be treated at our weekly health clinic, and access other services that are geared towards helping them live with greater health and dignity (mail, phone clothing, activities, and volunteering). We serve unsheltered adults, with and without families with basic needs, and our community health workers assist with the social determinants of health, including building a portfolio for each consumer with current ID, birth certificate, disability status and income status, to prepare them for healthcare coordination and housing navigation. We report healthcare coordination and housing assistance through CalAIM to record consumer progress into housing as data to develop an evidence base.
- $876,178 spent. Dorothy's KitchenWe serve smiles, gentle conversation, hugs, and an atmosphere of family. Dorothy's Kitchen open at 8:30 every morning for a hot breakfast for our guests, serving approximately 300 people each day. The Kitchen also serves a hot lunch every day of the week a 1:00. Upwards of 400 free meals are served daily. On special occasions, such as Thanksgiving, we exceed that number and will serve nearly 1,000 meals. Emergency food boxes are distributed between 10:00-11:00 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. There is no charge, obligation (other than good behavior), or discrimination. We don't ask names or request IDs. Those who come are our guests, and are treated with hospitality, like family.
- $588,169 spent. House of Peace Supportive HousingHouse of Peace (HOP) is a residential program for individuals who have experienced the trauma of long-term homelessness. The program has two shared living locations, 12 rooms at Soledad Street and 14 rooms at Jefferson Street. Bachelor's level social workers and housing navigators provide case management that includes CalAIM Medi-Cal enhanced care management and housing support benefits that are reimbursed by Central California Alliance for Health. As of November 2023, HOP also receives ongoing HUD funding for its permanent supportive housing program. HOP is a low-barrier housing program, accepting participants regardless of income, immigration, or sobriety status. Residents of HOP represent the most vulnerable unsheltered people in our area. All residents have complex needs and live with a combination of physical disability, mental illness, history of abuse, and substance addiction disorder.
- $1.1 million spent. Streets to Homes - Provides social case management, healthcare coordination and housing navigation to chronically unsheltered adults, primarily in Salinas, but in other communities in Monterey County as needed. The program has eight social workers and one housing navigators that work with approximately 130 individuals in developing person-centric plans to advance into housing and better health.Additionally, Streets To Homes conducts comprehensive encampment outreach, delivering social services and medical aid directly to individuals at encampment sites who may feel uncomfortable accessing Dorothy's Place or leaving their belongings unattended for appointments. The Streets To Homes Multidisciplinary Encampment Outreach (STHEO) team is composed of two community health workers, two social worker/housing navigators, and volunteer doctors and nurses,comprising the sole encampment outreach team in Monterey County with medical expertise. Our Housing First approach is trauma-informed and acknowledges the dignity, unique needs, and agency of each person.
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 November 1985.
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.