Karsh Family Social Service Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GUIDED BY JEWISH VALUES, THE KARSH FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER IMPROVES THE LIVES OF THE UNDERSERVED BY PROVIDING CRITICAL AND ACCESSIBLE SOCIAL SERVICES THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE OR COLLABORATION WITH OTHER PROVIDERS, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) WHILE ALSO INTEGRATING SIGNIFICANT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A UNIQUELY POWERFUL WAY TO HELP REPAIR THE WORLD.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 12 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 617
- Highest pay
- $248,792, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 2514 of 14 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 August 31, 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 million spent. FOOD PANTRY - THE FOOD PANTRY IS A MODERN, WELCOMING, AND THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED FACILITY, ARRANGED TO COMPLY WITH THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK GUIDELINES, WITH AMPLE STORAGE SPACE FOR DRY, REFRIGERATED, AND FROZEN FOODS. THE KARSH CENTER CAN COMFORTABLY PROVIDE MORE THAN 750 GROCERY BAGS WEEKLY. WE ALSO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 20 FAMILIES DELIVERING GROCERY BAGS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT PHYSICALLY VISIT THE FOOD PANTRY. THE FACILITY IS ALSO SPACIOUS ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE VOLUNTEERS WHO USE THE PANTRY TO ASSEMBLE AND DISTRIBUTE HEALTHY GROCERY BAGS FOR CLIENTS IN NEED.
- $133,294 spent. BIG GIVE PROGRAMS: THE BIG GIVE IS OUR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DISTRIBUTION SPECIAL EVENT, THROUGH WHICH WE PROVIDE 1,000 THANKSGIVING MEAL KITS TO OUR COMMUNITY. EACH KIT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FOUR FULL THANKSGIVING MEALS, INCLUDING ALL ITEMS FROM A TURKEY OR OTHER PROTEIN, TO A PUMPKIN PIE AND ALL SIDES. IT ULTIMATELY PROVIDES A SPECIAL HOLIDAY MEAL TO 4,000 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS EVENT ALSO ENGAGES HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE PREPARATION AND HOSTING OF THE DISTRIBUTION, AS WELL AS SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECTS TO HELP PREPARE OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY SUCH AS HYGIENE KITS AND WINTER KITS. IN 2025, WE DISTRIBUTED 1,048 FULL THANKSGIVING MEAL KITS TO OUR NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY ACROSS LOS ANGELES AND ENGAGED 218 VOLUNTEERS IN AN ESTIMATED 605 HOURS OF SERVICE.
- $118,606 spent. THE COMMITMENT OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE WORK AND SUCCESS OF THE KARSH FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER. ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS AS A KEY COMPONENT OF DELIVERING SERVICE ALLOWS THE KARSH CENTER TO BE A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WISHING TO BE OF SERVICE AND HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE NAVIGATING CHALLENGES LIKE FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY, AND MORE. THE KARSH CENTER VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER LOS ANGELES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MEMBERS OF WILSHIRE BOULEVARD TEMPLE AS WELL AS OTHER FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS; SCHOOL/STUDENT GROUPS; CORPORATE TEAMS AS WELL AS AN ARRAY OF PROFESSIONALS SHARING PRO -BONO TIME; AND MEMBERS OF THE KOREATOWN COMMUNITY WHO RECOGNIZE THAT THE KARSH CENTER IS A PILLAR IN SUPPORTING THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. WE HOST RECURRING WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS, SPECIAL EVENT/ONE-TIME VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, AND STUDENT AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AT BOTH THE KARSH FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER IN KOREATOWN AS WELL AS KARSH TIKKUN OLAM SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER (KARSH WEST), A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER HUB IN BRENTWOOD. ACROSS ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEERS RANGE FROM 3 YEARS OLD TO OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND THEY SHARE THEIR TIME BOTH ON-SITE AND THROUGH REMOTE PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES RANGE FROM PACKING GROCERY BAGS AND MAKING SANDWICH LUNCHES TO DOING OUTREACH TO CLIENTS AND COMPLETING DATA ENTRY, AND SO MUCH MORE. ACROSS THESE ACTIVITIES, WE ENGAGED AN ESTIMATED 617 VOLUNTEERS, SHARING OVER 8,000 HOURS OF SERVICE, IN 2024-2025.
- $220,021 spent. PARENT AND CHILD WELL-BEING PROGRAMS: THE KARSH CENTER' GOAL IS TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO SERVICES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. WE OFFER WORKSHOPS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE, SUPPORT GROUPS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS, DIAPER AND ESSENTIAL DISTRIBUTIONS TO MEET BASIC NEEDS, AND REFERRALS TO INCREASE FAMILIES SUPPORT SYSTEMS. FAMILIES ARE ALSO RECRUITED AND PRIORITIZED FOR OUR ANNUAL EVENTS. KARSH CENTER ALSO OFFERS AN ARRAY OF SERVICES IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. IN COLLABORATION WITH OVER 40 ORGANIZATIONS, KARSH CENTER OFFERS VISON CARE, DENTAL CARE, LEGAL CONSULTATIONS, ENGLISH CLASSES, COMPUTER CLASSES, NUTRITION EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND ESSENTIALS SUCH AS CLOTHING AND TOILETRIES. ADDITIONALLY, KARSH CENTER PROVIDES LINKAGE AND REFERRALS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, LEGAL AID, JOB SEARCH, AND OTHER SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO OUR THANKSGIVING PROGRAM, BIG GIVE, KARSH CENTER ALSO HOSTS A SPECIAL SUMMER BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT WHICH HELPS STUDENTS BECOME EXCITED AND PREPARE FOR THE START OF KINDERGARTEN AND A TOY DISTRIBUTION WHERE CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO CHOSE A GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 August 2025.
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 October 2019.
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.
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