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Yogananda Seva Inc

EIN 84-2331152 · Encinitas, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Yogananda Seva, Inc. (Yogananda Seva) is a San Diego County-based nonprofit, formed in 2019. Yogananda Sevas mission is to engage and motivate the vast pool of Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF)/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) members around the world in a variety of initiatives that support and/or complement SRFs and YSSs own activities. SRF is a religious organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda and recognized as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal RevenueCode.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
35
Volunteers
1,520
Highest pay
$160,278, head dig campus

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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 September 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 (2)
  1. $3.6 million spent. SRF SupportYogananda Seva supports several SRF departments and programs as follows:Several volunteer programs provide services to the worldwide SRF membership, as well as supporting SRF internal departments and work areas. These include an international help desk; various translation services; a youth services department; a volunteer portal; volunteer recruiting and support; a research team; a survey, testing, and focus group team; a team which provides support for SRF Centers, Temples, and Tours Departments; communications and outreach support; an elder forum for devotees aged 50+; a young adult sangha for devotees aged 18-39 who share aninterest in the teachings and meditation practices of Paramahansa Yogananda; and development of pilot programs that provide services to the worldwide SRF spiritual family.Yogananda Seva supports SRF in managing a website, enrollment process, and classes and programs for their Voluntary League of Disciples (VLD) program. The VLD provides an opportunity for devotees to take a pledge to structure their lives around the plan of spiritual life set forth by Paramahansa Yogananda, and to give freely of their time and resources to advance his spiritual mission for the upliftment of humanity.The Online Meditation Center allows all devotees, regardless of their location or circumstance, to have the opportunity to join in spiritual fellowship with other truth-seeking souls for group meditation and spiritual study.YSS is SRFs sister organization in India. Online Dhyana Kendra offers online group meditations and special events in India Standard Time. It is available to all devotees worldwide.Other services provided to SRF include: advisory services for Office of the President special projects and for the Strategic Planning Group; technology consulting services; support for special events such as the annual Convocation, retreats held throughout the year, and the Christmas Open House and Easter events held at the SRF International Headquarters; and advisory services and content support for the SRF Department of Philanthropic Planning.
  2. $16,697 spent. Other Devotee Support ProgramsOther volunteer programs managed by YSO are designed to support Paramahansa Yoganandas spiritual family of devotees through a variety of means, such as the development of a lay disciple intentional communities forum as a resource website for those who are interested in living together in spiritual communities and development of a resource for travel connections between devotees in Paramahansa Yoganandas spiritual family.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 October 2019.

    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.

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.