Karis Community
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE HEAL TOGETHER.
- Income
- $504,435
- Spending
- $580,442
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- -8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $99,808, executive di
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: 35 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 97 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (3)
- $389,868 spent. KARIS COMMUNITY OFFERS A COMMUNITY-ORIENTED RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR ADULTS MANAGING SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS AS WELL AS CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. OUR EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM PREPARES INDIVIDUALS, 21 OR OLDER, TO RE-ENGAGE IN THE LARGER COMMUNITY, REDUCE HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE THREE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM THAT AID IN THIS PROCESS ARE: 1) TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS DEVELOP SKILLS FOR SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, HEALTHY COPING, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING; 2) TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT OFFERS STRUCTURE AND SAFETY WHILE PROMOTING SELF-WORTH AND SELF-EFFICACY; 3) TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL, FULFILLING LIFE AT KARIS AND BEYOND.
- $57,123 spent. KARIS COMMUNITY'S STEPPING STONE COTTAGE IS A SECONDARY THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, BUT WHO ARE NOT YET READY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THIS PROPERTY PROVIDES A LESS RESTRICTIVE, PEER-SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.
- KARIS IS LOCATED IN THE METROPOLITAN DENVER AREA; HOWEVER, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A LOCAL AND NATIONAL REPUTATION FOR SUCCESS. WE RECEIVE REFERRALS AND REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION DAILY, NOT ONLY FROM THE DENVER AREA BUT THROUGHOUT COLORADO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. KARIS IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY-MODEL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN COLORADO AND ONE OF FEW NATIONWIDE. THERE IS A CRITICAL LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS NOT REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION BUT WHO ARE NOT YET READY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. DUE TO THE SUPPORT OF GENEROUS DONORS, KARIS CAN OFFER A LOW RESIDENT FEE OF 685 FOR A SINGLE ROOM. THIS FEE IS CONSIDERED EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN DENVER AND HELPS TEACH ACCOUNTABILITY, FINANCIAL AWARENESS, AND REALISTIC INTEGRATION INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF LIFE. OUR PROGRAM IS A STEPPING STONE TO INDEPENDENT LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR FEES OFFER A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT LIFE WILL BE LIKE OUTSIDE KARIS. MONTHLY FEES COVER INDIVIDUAL CHECK-INS, SUPPORT GROUPS, COMMUNITY MEALS, HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES, UTILITIES, SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, ACCESS TO 24-HOUR STAFF SUPPORT, AND MORE. OTHER THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES CHARGE UPWARDS OF 10,000 PER MONTH, MAKING OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY UNIQUE AMONG SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS. MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE FINANCIAL RESOURCES BELOW THE POVERTY LINE; MANY HAVE MANAGED HOMELESSNESS AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFETIME. NEARLY ALL MEMBERS UTILIZE PUBLIC SUPPORT, SUCH AS MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, TO ASSIST IN THEIR RECOVERY PROCESS. OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, KARIS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - KARIS SERVED OVER 100 INDIVIDUALS FROM JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025, INCLUDING CURRENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, RESIDENTS AT THE STEPPING STONE COTTAGE, THE ALUMNI GROUP, APPLICANTS ON THE WAITING LIST NEEDING IMMEDIATE SUPPORT, AND APPLICANTS WHO MAY NOT BE READY FOR THE PROGRAM BUT REQUIRE RESOURCES. OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ENGAGED IN OUR EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, OVER 80% OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMPLETED EACH OF OUR AGENCY OBJECTIVES. - THE STAFF TRACKS COMMUNITY MEMBERS' (CMS) LIVING SITUATIONS BEFORE ARRIVING AT KARIS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, BEFORE THEIR STAY AT KARIS, 9% OF CMS WERE MANAGING HOMELESSNESS, 37% WERE LIVING IN A GROUP HOME, TREATMENT FACILITY, OR SOBER LIVING ENVIRONMENT, 39% WERE LIVING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, AND 15% WERE LIVING INDEPENDENTLY. THREE CMS TRANSITIONED TO THE COTTAGE AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE PROGRAM. THE REMAINING GRADUATES MOVED INTO VARYING LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE, INCLUDING APARTMENTS AND HOUSING WITH ROOMMATES. - IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, COMMUNITY MEMBERS (CMS) EXPERIENCED A COMBINED TOTAL OF 145 HOSPITALIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIMES (6,547 DAYS), WITH 31 HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE YEAR PRECEDING THEIR STAY AT KARIS, AND FOUR DURING THEIR STAY. THUS, CMS REDUCED HOSPITALIZATIONS BY APPROXIMATELY 88% WHILE AT KARIS. WE TRACK OUR 24-HOUR ON-CALL PHONE TO ASSESS WHEN THIS SERVICE PREVENTS HOSPITALIZATION VERSUS WHEN HOSPITALIZATION IS UNAVOIDABLE. LAST FISCAL YEAR, THERE WERE 10 ON-CALL OUTREACHES. 90% OF CMS DID NOT REQUIRE ACCESS TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE AFTER UTILIZING OUR ON-CALL SYSTEM. KARIS CONTINUES TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND ITS PARTNERSHIPS, WORKING WITH OVER 40 AGENCIES AND HOSPITALS TO RECEIVE REFERRALS AND PROVIDE CONTINUITY OF CARE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MANAGING CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS HAS RESULTED IN OBSERVED IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMUNITY MEMBERS' ABILITY TO MANAGE THEIR CONDITIONS. FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ONGOING SUPPORT THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED CARE PLANS, REGULAR CHECK-INS, AND PARTICIPATION IN SUPPORT GROUPS, ENSURING SUSTAINED PROGRESS AND WELL- BEING. A SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS HAS BEEN THE REINTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO THE LARGER COMMUNITY. MANY HAVE SECURED EMPLOYMENT OR VOLUNTEER POSITIONS THROUGH WEEKLY CHECK-INS AND SUPPORT GROUPS. FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES INVOLVE ONGOING SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO ENSURE LONG-TERM STABILITY IN THEIR NEW ROLES. GRADUATES OF OUR EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM WHO TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENT OR PEER-SUPPORTED LIVING CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CHECK-INS AND SUPPORT FROM KARIS TO HELP THEM MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
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 September 1976.
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.