Safe Parking La
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $3.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 58%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 192
- Highest pay
- $90,693, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 46% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
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
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 June 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 (3)
- $148,857 spent. Community Warmline: Safe Parking LA (SPLA) is the largest and oldest program in Los Angeles designed to help people experiencing vehicular homelessness by providing safe, designated parking spaces where they can sleep in their vehicles. The program focuses on ensuring safety, offering services, and providing a pathway towards more stable housing. The "front door" to SPLA is the community warmline, which operates 7 days a week with a live, available staff member to field requests through phone or email. On the line, callers are screened to understand their individual needs and provide appropriate referrals up to and including enrollment into one of SPLA's program sites. Annually, the warmline receives 2,933 inquiries. SPLA operates at a 95% screening rate of these calls.
- $2.1 million spent. Lot Operation and Case Management: Once a potential participant has been identified as appropriate for enrollment into a program site, individuals are provided a permit to the location of their choice, a AAA membership, and a dedicated case manager. That case manager follows up with the enrolled participant within 3 days of lot attendance to develop a unique Housing Services Plan and enroll that individual or family into the Homeless Management Information System utilized by service providers and agencies throughout the region. On-site, program sites will have a security officer and sanitation facilities - ADA bathroom and handwashing stations. The lot operates 7:30pm-7:30am and is regularly visited by SPLA staff to ensure participant experience and requests are being addressed. FY25 outcome data: 407 participants served, 61 exits to permanent housing, 21% placement rate.
- $282,554 spent. Financial Assistance: Once a participant has been enrolled at a program site for 30 days, they become eligible for access to the Participant Financial Assistance (PFA) program. Participants can request direct funds for auto-related repairs, credit repair, and rental assistance. SPLA provides for these incidentals so participants can use their vehicles safely and legally. The car is their current home, but it is also their livelihood and provides access to other vital services and networks. Over 66% of participants are employed or have a source of income, and major barriers to stable, individual housing come down to up front costs such as rental deposits, furniture purchases, and credit repair options.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 March 2022.
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.