Whirlidogs Training Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To establish a downtown business or businesses that would support the training and subsequent employment of differently abled adults being inclusive of all levels of ability.
- Income
- $226,645
- Spending
- $260,325
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 59%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $12,325, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (mental health, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (mental health, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (3)
- $185,213 spent. WhirliDogs Cafe and Training Operations | WhirliDogs Cafe operates as a fully functioning restaurant and training center providing meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The cafe creates an inclusive environment where employees develop workplace skills gain independence and contribute to the local community through meaningful work. In 2025 the cafe employed and trained 25 young adults with disabilities in roles such as food preparation customer service cleaning and point-of-sale transactions. Staff receive structured coaching individualized support and ongoing skill development to help them succeed in both their current roles and future employment. Beyond technical skills the program emphasizes confidence-building teamwork and problem solving-equipping participants with transferable skills for long-term independence. WhirliDogs tracks program outcomes to measure effectiveness. We monitor the number of individuals trained ServSafe certifications earned job placements in the broader workforce and retention of those placements. Early results have been highly encouraging seven employees have successfully transitioned into competitive employment in other businesses. In addition to providing jobs the cafe serves as a hub for community education and inclusion. Customers experience firsthand the value and capabilities of employees with disabilities helping to reduce stigma and build a more welcoming community. The cafe has become a gathering place for local events schools and civic groups further strengthening its impact. Through WhirliDogs Cafe we demonstrate that with the right supports individuals with disabilities can thrive in the workforce contribute meaningfully to their community and achieve greater independence.
- $32,000 spent. ServSafe Academy: WhirliDogs Cafe operates the ServSafe Academy a specialized training program that equips individuals with the knowledge and skills required for safe food handling and preparation. This program uses the nationally recognized ServSafe curriculum which we have adapted to include hands-on instruction in our commercial kitchen to reinforce and build confidence in practical application. Since launching the program we have trained more than 40 individuals many of whom are young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities seeking their first job in the food service industry. In 2025 we have trained an additional 12 individuals. The Academy provides structured classroom learning combined with supervised kitchen practice ensuring participants not only understand the content but can also apply food safety principles in real-world situations. At the conclusion of the program participants take the ServSafe certification exam. Our program has achieved a 95% passing rate significantly higher than national averages demonstrating the effectiveness of our adapted teaching methods and the commitment of our students. Certification provides participants with a valuable industry-recognized credential that greatly enhances their employability and opens pathways to competitive jobs in restaurants cafeterias and other food service settings. In addition to certification participants gain confidence in food preparation sanitation teamwork and communications skills that extend beyond the classroom and help them succeed in employment and community life. The ServSafe Academy illustrates our belief that with the right supports and teaching strategies individuals of all abilities can achieve professional certifications build meaningful careers and contribute positively to the workforce.
- $19,006 spent. Prep Academy: The WhirliDogs Prep Academy is designed to prepare individuals for success in food service by teaching both the practical skills and specialized language used in a commercial kitchen. Many participants face challenges with technical terminology which can create barriers to earning industry certifications such as ServSafe. The Prep Academy addresses this gap through experiential learning that blends cooking cleaning and vocabulary development in a supportive hands-on environment. The course consists of four two-hour sessions held in our commercial kitchen. Under the guidance of an instructor participants prepare full entrees-such as chicken pot pies lasagna enchiladas and parmesan meatballs-that they can take home to share with their families. This structure not only builds culinary skills but also reinforces the pride of creating something meaningful for others. In addition to food preparation participants are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing the kitchen at the conclusion of each session. This step reinforces food safety practices while familiarizing participants with essential equipment and procedures such as proper use of prep sinks three-compartment sinks handwashing stations and sanitation buckets. By integrating this vocabulary and practice into real-life cooking scenarios participants gain the confidence and knowledge needed to navigate a professional kitchen environment. The Prep Academy serves as a bridge to further training opportunities including our ServSafe Academy. By reducing language barriers and building familiarity with commercial kitchen systems the program increases participants likelihood of passing certification exams and succeeding in food service employment. Participants leave the program with stronger cooking skills improved understanding of sanitation and safety practices and enhanced readiness for both professional and personal success.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 November 6, 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 December 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 May 2020.
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 November 4, 2026.
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