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Pacific Autism Center of Education

EIN 77-0259858 · Santa Clara, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY AUTISM, THROUGH INNOVATION, EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION, AND COMPASSIONATE CARE.

Income
$17.8 million
Spending
$13.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
191
Volunteers
70
Highest pay
$313,570, ed/secretary

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

Good: 82 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 48 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 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 (4)
  1. $7.3 million spent. THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OPERATES THREE CERTIFIED NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS ("NPS") FOR PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, SERVING STUDENTS 3 TO 22 YEARS OF AGE. THE TEACHING PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON A CHILD-CENTERED APPROACH, ALLOWING EACH CHILD TO WORK ON HIS/HER SPECIFIC LEARNING NEEDS BY UTILIZING THEIR STRENGTHS AND INTERESTS. STUDENTS EXPERIENCE AN AGE APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM, TAUGHT INDIVIDUALLY AND IN SMALL GROUPS. SERVICES INCLUDE FULL-TIME, ON-SITE, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPISTS AND CERTIFIED BEHAVIORISTS WHICH PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, THE THREE-STEP VOCATIONAL AND INDEPENDENT LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM PREPARES STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE AND WORKPLACE SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IS CERTIFIED BY THE STATE AND ADDITIONALLY ACCREDITED BY THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ("WASC").
  2. $3.3 million spent. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM CONSISTS OF ONE GROUP HOME FOR CHILDREN IN CUPERTINO AND FOUR GROUP HOMES FOR ADULTS IN SUNNYVALE AND SAN JOSE. THE CLIENTS RESIDING IN THE GROUP HOMES ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH INCLUDE AUTISM AND VARIOUS RELATED DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IN THE GROUP HOMES, CLIENTS ARE TAUGHT DAILY LIVING SKILLS AND THE APPROPRIATE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. THEY SPEND TIME IN THE COMMUNITY ON OUTINGS SUCH AS GROCERY SHOPPING, HIKING, AMUSEMENT PARKS AND MUCH MORE.
  3. $1.0 million spent. FACES'S MISSION IS TO ENABLE CHILDREN WITH AUTISM TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY A RESOURCE FOR EARLY INTERVENTION THERAPIES (AGES 2 TO 10), SERVICES FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM (AGES 11 TO 22), AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF CHILDHOOD AUTISTIC DISORDERS. THE FACES DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM IS GROUNDED IN ABA METHODOLOGIES COUPLED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES.
  4. $433,920 spent. CONNECTIONS REFERS TO THE PRESCHOOL OPERATIONS AT THE SUNNY DAYS CAMPUS ("SUNNY DAYS"). SUNNY DAYS PROVIDES A SAFE, FUN, AND CARING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUNG CHILDREN CAN EXPLORE AND GROW.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 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 April 1994.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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