Debtwave Credit Counseling Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATE ON THE PROPER USE OF CREDIT THROUGH BUDGET MANAGEMENT, TO OFFER SOUND COUNSELING AND TO ASSIST CLIENTS TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE DEBT. WE EDUCATE AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO MAKE SOUND FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND DEVELOP POSITIVE PERSONAL FINANCE HABITS FOR LIFE.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $196,864, executive 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (2)
- $2.1 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ONE ON ONE COUNSELING SESSIONS FOR THEIR CLIENTS. THROUGH THIS SERVICE, EACH CLIENT RECEIVES A DETAILED REVIEW OF ALL LIABILITIES, ASSETS, MONTHLY EXPENSES AND MONTHLY INCOME. AT THE CONCLUSION OF EACH SESSION CLIENTS RECEIVE A DETAILED FINANCIAL ANALYSIS REPORT WITH A LIST OF POSSIBLE OPTIONS TO PAY BACK THEIR DEBT. 2,173 COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE COMPLETED IN 2025.
- $48,767 spent. THE ORGANIZATION HAS A ROBUST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WHICH IS BUILT AROUND A COMPREHENSIVE PERSONAL FINANCIAL EDUCATION PLATFORMTHAT FOCUSES ON THE OVERALL FINANCIAL HEALTH OF ITS CONSTITUENTS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, YOUTH AND LOW-MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES. THE ORGANIZATION USES A MACRO APPROACH TOWARD TRANSFORMING PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL BEHAVIOR IN A WAY THAT ENCOURAGES THEM TO MAKE A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO INCREASING INCOME, DECREASING EXPENSES AND ACQUIRING ASSETS.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SERVICES ACROSS KEY AREAS: FINANCIAL LITERACY, DEBT MANAGEMENT,BUDGETING AND CREDIT COUNSELING WHICH ARE INTEGRATED TOGETHER ALONG WITH ANCILLARY SERVICES PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION/ADVISEMENT. ALL OF THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS IN A BUNDLED FASHION TO REINFORCE ONE ANOTHER AND TO FORGE A MULTI-FACETED APPROACH TO OVERALL FINANCIAL FITNESS.
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 December 2001.
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.