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Desert Senita Community Health Center

EIN 86-0871311 · Ajo, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE VISION OF DESERT SENITA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER STATES: YOUR CENTER FOR HEALING AND WELLNESS. THE MISSION IS QUALITY, LOCAL, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL. DESERT SENITA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF PRIMARY MEDICAL, DENTAL, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE AS WELL AS PHARMACY SERVICES IN THE RURAL FRONTIER COMMUNITY OF AJO, ARIZONA, A GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AREA ROUGHLY 2.5 TIMES THE SIZE OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY FEDERAL LANDS. AJO AND SURROUNDING AREAS HAVE A U.S. CENSUS 2022 POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 4,000. DESERT SENITA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER CURRENTLY PROVIDES SERVICES TO AN ESTIMATED 75% OF ALL LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TYPICALLY RECORDS OVER 12,000 PATIENT VISITS PER YEAR. IN 2017, DESERT SENITA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (DSCHC) EXPANDED SERVICES TO INCLUDE PRIMARY CARE MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND PHARMACY SERVICES TO THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY OF ARIZONA CITY, IN PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA. DSCHC IS THE ONLY FULLTI

Income
$12.7 million
Spending
$13.0 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
134
Highest pay
$297,591, cmo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 February 28, 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. $9.6 million spent. DESERT SENITA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IS THE SOLE PROVIDER FOR PRIMARY HEALTH, DENTAL SERVICES, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND PHARMACY IN THE ENTIRE RURAL AND FRONTIER AREA NEAR AJO IN ARIZONA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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 November 6, 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 February 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 September 1997.

    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 November 4, 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.