The Next Stop Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 'AGE OUT' OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AT THE AGE OF 22 AND THEIR CONSISTENT PEER GROUP AND TEACHER MENTORS ARE NO LONGER A PART OF THEIR LIFE. OFTEN THEIR DAYS ARE WITHOUT PURPOSE OR MEANING AND THEY FEEL LONELY AND ISOLATED. TO SUPPORT THESE YOUNG ADULTS, THE NEXT STOP PROVIDES A PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN ENGAGE AND INTERACT WITH THEIR PEERS AND MENTORING VOLUNTEERS/STAFF, PARTICIPATE AND SUCCEED IN GOAL-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES, AND CONTINUE TO LEARN NEW THINGS. EACH DAY CONSISTS OF A SUPPORTED SOCIAL TIME, A GROUP COOKING EXPERIENCE, A RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY AND AN ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITY.
- Income
- $275,944
- Spending
- $303,978
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 14.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $39,900, president
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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $254,580 spent. MET TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS 1:00-5:00 PM THE NEXT STOP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 30 ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (AKA OUR "MEMBERS") EACH AFTERNOON, PROVIDING A STRUCTURED AND GOAL- ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT FILLED WITH GROUP ACTIVITIES, LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND PERSONALIZED MENTORSHIP. EACH DAY, OUR MEMBERS FOLLOW A ROUTINE THAT INCLUDES A SELF-DIRECTED AND SUPPORTED SOCIAL HOUR, PREPARING AND ENJOYING A RECIPE TOGETHER, ENGAGING IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND PARTICIPATING IN AN ENRICHMENT SESSION FILLED WITH STIMULATING ACTIVITIES. ALL PROGRAMMING IS LED BY OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR, WHO IS ALSO AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. SHE THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNS EACH ACTIVITY TO BE THERAPEUTIC, GOAL- ORIENTED, AND ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION: TO OFFER EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH AND EXPAND THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS. ACTIVITIES ARE ADAPTABLE TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND FOCUSED ON CREATING SUCCESS FOR EVERY PARTICIPANT. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HAVE THE POTENTIAL NOT ONLY TO MAINTAIN THE SKILLS THEY'VE WORKED SO HARD TO DEVELOP, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE GROWING THEM. AS CONFIDENCE BUILDS THROUGH SUCCESS, OUR MEMBERS ARE MORE WILLING TO TRY NEW THINGS AND LEARN NEW SKILLS. BEYOND PROGRAMMING, "BELONGING" IS AT THE HEART OF THE NEXT STOP. WE FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY MEMBER IS WELCOME, INCLUDED AND CONNECTED-WHERE THEY ARE NOT JUST ATTENDING A PROGRAM, THEY ARE A PART OF A SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH SHARED ACTIVITIES AND INTERACTIONS, MEMBERS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCE A GENUINE SENSE OF BELONGING. IN MARCH, WE HOSTED OUR ANNUAL FAMILY AND FRIENDS DINNER, A SPECIAL EVENT WHERE THE NEXT STOP MEMBERS TOOK CENTER STAGE. THEY PREPARED LASAGNAS AND DESSERTS, CRAFTED TABLE DECORATIONS, AND PERFORMED A MUSICAL PRESENTATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR MUSIC THERAPIST. MEMBERS ALSO EMBRACED KEY ROLES AS GREETERS, SERVERS, AND USHERS-GAINING VALUABLE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN TEAMWORK AND HOSPITALITY. PROVIDING MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENHANCE AND EXPAND THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR MISSION. OUR PROGRAM IS ALSO STRENGTHENED BY AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF 25 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS. THESE INDIVIDUALS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN FACILITATING SMALL GROUPS AND PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO OUR MEMBERS DURING ACTIVITIES. AT LEAST FIVE VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE EACH AFTERNOON, COLLECTIVELY DEDICATING AN ESTIMATED 2,700 DIRECT PROGRAM HOURS ANNUALLY. WHEN FACTORING IN FUNDRAISING AND EXTRA NEEDS, IT IS ESTIMATED TO REACH AT LEAST 3,000 HOURS. THEIR GENEROSITY AND COMMITMENT ARE INVALUABLE TO OUR PROGRAM'S SUCCESS. MET TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS 1:00-5:00 PM THE NEXT STOP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 30 ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (AKA OUR "MEMBERS") EACH AFTERNOON, PROVIDING A STRUCTURED AND GOAL- ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT FILLED WITH GROUP ACTIVITIES, LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND PERSONALIZED MENTORSHIP. EACH DAY, OUR MEMBERS FOLLOW A ROUTINE THAT INCLUDES A SELF-DIRECTED AND SUPPORTED SOCIAL HOUR, PREPARING AND ENJOYING A RECIPE TOGETHER, ENGAGING IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND PARTICIPATING IN AN ENRICHMENT SESSION FILLED WITH STIMULATING ACTIVITIES. ALL PROGRAMMING IS LED BY OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR, WHO IS ALSO AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. SHE THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNS EACH ACTIVITY TO BE THERAPEUTIC, GOAL- ORIENTED, AND ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION: TO OFFER EXPERIENCES THAT ENRICH AND EXPAND THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS. ACTIVITIES ARE ADAPTABLE TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND FOCUSED ON CREATING SUCCESS FOR EVERY PARTICIPANT. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HAVE THE POTENTIAL NOT ONLY TO MAINTAIN THE SKILLS THEY'VE WORKED SO HARD TO DEVELOP, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE GROWING THEM. AS CONFIDENCE BUILDS THROUGH SUCCESS, OUR MEMBERS ARE MORE WILLING TO TRY NEW THINGS AND LEARN NEW SKILLS. BEYOND PROGRAMMING, "BELONGING" IS AT THE HEART OF THE NEXT STOP. WE FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY MEMBER IS WELCOME, INCLUDED AND CONNECTED-WHERE THEY ARE NOT JUST ATTENDING A PROGRAM, THEY ARE A PART OF A SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH SHARED ACTIVITIES AND INTERACTIONS, MEMBERS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCE A GENUINE SENSE OF BELONGING. IN MARCH, WE HOSTED OUR ANNUAL FAMILY AND FRIENDS DINNER, A SPECIAL EVENT WHERE THE NEXT STOP MEMBERS TOOK CENTER STAGE. THEY PREPARED LASAGNAS AND DESSERTS, CRAFTED TABLE DECORATIONS, AND PERFORMED A MUSICAL PRESENTATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR MUSIC THERAPIST. MEMBERS ALSO EMBRACED KEY ROLES AS GREETERS, SERVERS, AND USHERS-GAINING VALUABLE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN TEAMWORK AND HOSPITALITY. PROVIDING MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENHANCE AND EXPAND THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR MISSION. OUR PROGRAM IS ALSO STRENGTHENED BY AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF 25 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS. THESE INDIVIDUALS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN FACILITATING SMALL GROUPS AND PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO OUR MEMBERS DURING ACTIVITIES. AT LEAST FIVE VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE EACH AFTERNOON, COLLECTIVELY DEDICATING AN ESTIMATED 2,700 DIRECT PROGRAM HOURS ANNUALLY. WHEN FACTORING IN FUNDRAISING AND EXTRA NEEDS, IT IS ESTIMATED TO REACH AT LEAST 3,000 HOURS. THEIR GENEROSITY AND COMMITMENT ARE INVALUABLE TO OUR PROGRAM'S 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 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 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 September 2006.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.