Side by Side
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To support children, youth, and their families in healing from past trauma, developing social, emotional, and functional life skills to cope and build resilience, and accessing necessary resources now and in the future. The Agency does so through behavioral health programs including community-based, residential, educational, and other outreach and support programs. The Agency has been in operation since 1895 and is accredited by The Joint Commission having met the standards for its Behavioral Healthcare Accreditation program.
- Income
- $13.2 million
- Spending
- $13.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 43%
- Employees
- 138
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $230,729, ceo
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
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 68% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
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
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 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)
- $5.3 million spent. Education & Community Programs:At its nonpublic school in Marin, Side by Side provides academic education, behavioral support, therapy, and other services, as well as a safe place to learn, for K-12 students with acute social, emotional, and/or behavioral challenges. Other community programs include a drop-in center for LGBTQIA+ youth in Alameda County, and an early intervention and youth development program in Marin and Sonoma Counties.
- $3.8 million spent. Behavioral Health:Side by Side's clinicians and paraprofessionals provide an array of clinical and therapeutic services including assessment, plan development, case management, rehabilitation services, individual, group, and family therapies, crisis intervention and medication support, as well as drop-in services for transition-age youth in several counties including Alameda, Marin, Napa and Sonoma. Services are delivered in four counties to a target population that includes school-age children and adolescents living with their families of origin or in foster or adoptive homes, and transition-age youth.
- $1.6 million spent. Transitional Housing:Side by Side offers transitional housing services for current and former foster youth ages 16-25, primarily serving youth in Alameda County. The program offers youth a safe place to call home while receiving services designed to help them achieve emotional, social, and functional well-being and stability.
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 1936.
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.