Connections High School & Vocational Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Connections envisions a world where everyone is given the opportunity to achieve their full potential and where students with autism can access the specialized, caring instruction and therapies they need to become productive members of their families and community.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -7.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 68%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $38,648, exec dir/principal
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
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 113% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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 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 (1)
- $1.4 million spent. Connections weaves together functional academics, targeted therapies and vocational training to help students ages 14-22 transition into adulthood. Education takes place in the classroom, the life skills center and in the larger community where the students spend time learning many of the skills necessary for everyday life. The vocational program gives students the opportunity to learn relevant job skills in their real work envirnments. In Connections Adult Day Traning Program, clients over the age of 22 are provided a safe, structured, and supportive environment. Connections plays a unique role among organizations that serve the ASD community by incorporating the whole family into the educational process. We provide a lifelong, family-centered partnership both in and out of school. Our innovative Health, Wellness and Aquatics Program addresses students unique fitness, nutrition and water safety needs. Our school nurse program, initially funded by the Quantum Foundation, continues to be an integral part of this program. In addition, community-based continued on Schedule O partnerships and activities promoting inclusion are part of our students and clients day. Community-based instruction sites include partnerships with Drive Shack, First Tee, Extraordinary Charities Recipes for Success Culinary Program, the Kravis Center, Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, Island Dolphin Care, and other community businesses. Through partnerships with All-Tag, Peggys Pantry of Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, and other comminity partners, in-house job training opportunities are integrated in the student/clients day. With over 85 of our families living below the poverty level, Connections provides support for families with food insecurities. We partner with the PB Food Bank to provide an on-site food pantry and also participate in their weekend backpack program that sends food home to our families for the weekend.
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
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 June 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 March 2017.
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.