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California Head Start Association

EIN 77-0412315 · Citrus Hts, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 633 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

We are the premier advocacy organization for Head Start agencies throughoutCalifornia. We advocate for our members at the federal, state and local county levelensuring that members speak with a unified voice about the challenges facingCalifornia's most vulnerable families, and the Head Start community that servesthem. By communicating with members, and creating opportunities for learning andconnecting, members are increasingly engaged, unified and supported as they work tobetter serve their clients and communities.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
13.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
8
Volunteers
32
Highest pay
$167,325, executive dir.

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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 633 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $597,581 spent. Held conferences including Education Conference, Parent and Family Engagement Conference, Health Institute, Leadership & Wellness Symposium, Managers & Directors Institute, and Advocacy Day. Through collaboration with corporate partners, we provided additional training for members.
  2. $209,037 spent. Head Start California engages with other Early Childhood Education advocates and associations to coordinate budgetary and policy change initiatives, and communicates with elected legislators and state budget, education, and social service offices to ensure they are aware of the value of the Federal investment that Head Start brings to California as part of the ECE mixed delivery system in California. We advocate for Head Start programs at both the federal and state levels.
  3. $175,934 spent. We support our Head Start member agencies through services that include our job posting site and bi-annual Compensation and Benefits Study. We also provide members with information via our website and communications, as well as help connect members with each other by supporting regional meetings.
  4. $21,281 spent. Head Start California works with the California Dept of Education's Early Education& Support Division (CDE-EESD) and the California Head Start State CollaborationOffice (CHSSCO) to coordinate efforts to simplify and align state policy and regulations on behalf of Head Start programs, many of whom also have State Preschool contracts, and to facilitates communication between Head Start agencies and CDE-EESD and CHSSCO including collecting input and feedback from the field and disseminating information to the field.

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 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 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 February 2004.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: California Apt Association (Sacramento, CA), EIN 95-2829075. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.