Project Reality
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION SERVICES.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 14.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 70%
- Employees
- 62
- Highest pay
- $131,590, medical dir.
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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)
- $3.2 million spent. PROJECT REALITY'S PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR AIM IS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO STRENGTHEN THEIR HEALTH AND WELLNESS, FIND MEANING AND PURPOSE, AND TO LEAD A SELF-DIRECTED LIFE. WE DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY CARE, PSYCHOTHERAPY, CARE COORDINATION, AND SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY SERVICES REGARDLESS OF A PERSON'S ABILITY TO PAY. OUR COLLABORATIVE TEAM OF MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND CASE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE EXCELLENT PATIENT CARE WHILE REDUCING BARRIERS TO SERVICE BY FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT OF ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT.IN 2025, PROJECT REALITY'S MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM TREATED OVER 1,000 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD). OUR CLINICAL STAFF HAD MANY ENCOUNTERS WITH OUR PATIENTS WHO SAW THERAPISTS, COUNSELORS, CASE MANAGERS, DOCTORS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND NURSES FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH,MEDICAL, AND CASE MANAGEMENT NEEDS.OUR GROWING CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC (CCBHC) SAW INDIVIDUALS ADMITTED INTO THE CCBHC-E GRANT PROGRAM. THESE PATIENTS ARE ASSESSED AT INTAKE AND AT SIX MONTHS WITH AN IN-DEPTH ASSESSMENT MEASURING MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.DUE TO OUR PERFORMANCE IN THE CCBHC-E GRANT, PROJECT REALITY WAS AWARDED A 4-YEAR CCBHC-IA GRANT IN SEPTEMBER 2022. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR MEDICAL SERVICES AND OUR MAT TREATMENT TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WHILE WE BUILD MEDICAL BILLING MECHANISMS TO SUSTAIN OUR EXPANSION INTO MEDICAL CARE.
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 October 1973.
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.
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.