Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Mental Health Association of San Francisco

EIN 94-1218623 · San Francisco, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO IS TO CULTIVATE PEER LEADERSHIP, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH.

Income
$21.9 million
Spending
$22.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
361
Highest pay
$272,609, president & 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $20.4 million spent. THE CALIFORNIA PEER WARM LINE: THE WARM LINE IS A 24/7 NON-EMERGENCY RESOURCE FOR ANYONE IN CALIFORNIA SEEKING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. WE PROVIDE NON-JUDGMENTAL AND NONDISCRIMINATORY SUPPORT VIA PHONE AND WEBCHAT TO CALIFORNIANS IN NEED. CALLERS SHARE THEIR CHALLENGES WITH INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, ANXIETY, PAIN, DEPRESSION, INANCES, ALCOHOL/DRUG USE, AND MORE. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE VIA PHONE AT 855-845-7415 OR CHAT AT WW.MENTALHEALTHSF.ORG/PEER-RUN-WARMLINE/.
  2. COUNTY OF MARIN TRIAGE: THE OVERALL GOAL OF MHASF?S COUNTY OF MARIN TRIAGE PROGRAM IS TO ADDRESS AND MITIGATE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES THROUGH PEER SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER MENTAL HEALTH AND SYSTEMS PROVIDERS IN MARIN COUNTY. WE STRIVE TO GIVE MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS WARM, STRENGTH-BASED, TIMELY AND THOROUGH SUPPORT TO REDUCE INSTANCES OF INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION AND PROMOTE RECOVERY. WE STRIVE TO: 1.ENSURE SERVICES MEET THE NEEDS DENTIFIED OF CONSUMERS AND PROMOTE RECOVERY AND SELF-EMPOWERMENT 2.ENSURE THAT SERVICES ARE RESPECTFUL OF AND ARE SENSITIVE TO THE ETHNIC/CULTURAL CONTEXT AND HISTORY OF THE CONSUMER AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM 3.ENSURE CONSUMERS ARE INVOLVED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE IN ALL DECISIONS AFFECTING SERVICES 4.PROVIDE SERVICES IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS AND IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONSUMERS? CULTURE 5.PROMOTE COLLABORATION AMONG CONSUMERS, SUPPORT SYSTEMS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, JUSTICE SYSTEM PERSONNEL, SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND OTHER AGENCIES 6. DEVELOP MEANINGFUL PROCESS FOR EVALUATION OF SERVICES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES QUALITY, PEER-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY. TRAINED PEER PROVIDERS RESPOND TO THOSE IDENTIFIED AS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND WILL PROVIDE ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, AND ASSIST WITH THE NAVIGATION OF APPROPRIATE SERVICES AS PART OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS. SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFY AS BEING IN CRISIS AND/OR THEIR SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT PERSON.
  3. PWI PEER WORKFORCE - MHASF WAS AWARDED A GRANT TO FUND PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST ACTIVITIES IN OCTOBER 2020. THE FUNDER IS THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES DHCS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BHWD PEER WORKFORCE INVESTMENT GRANT PWI. AS A PWI GRANTEE, MHASF HAS BEEN PROVIDED FUNDS TO DEVELOP THE INFRASTRUCTURE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND SERVICES TO PREPARE MHASF TO PROVIDE MEDI-CAL APPROVED PEER SERVICES STARTING IN 2023. UNDER THE GRANT, MHASF IS TASKED TO ESTABLISH AND FOSTER ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY SETTING FOR MEDI-CAL ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. MHASF MAY ESTABLISH SERVICE AND REFERRAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITIES AND COUNTIES IT CHOOSES TO. MHASF DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIP PILOT THAT TO INTEGRATE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS INTO THE SERVICE CARE TEAMS OF THE MULTICULTURAL CENTER OF MARIN FOR MARIN COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. MHASF PEER STAFF AND MCM STAFF WILL COLLABORATE AND DEVELOP SUPPORT, TREATMENT, AND COMMUNITY TRANSITION PLANS FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO MEET THE PROGRAMS TARGET POPULATION.
  4. THE ORGANIZATION HAS A NUMBER OF OTHER PROGRAMS SERVICES, THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, INCLUDING: PROVIDING CRISIS SUPPORT PROVIDING SUPPORT SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND TO PREVENT EVECTION AND HOMELESSNESS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HOARDING DISORDER CHALLENGES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS BY PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP INTERVENTIONS THAT FOCUS ON INCREASING PEER WELLNESS, RECOVERY, AND RESILIENCY REDUCING STIGMA DISCRIMINATION AND BIAS RELATED TO MENTAL ILLNESS/MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS PROVIDING SUPPORT, TRAINING AND PLACEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH LIVED EXPERIENCES TO IMPROVE THE WELLBEING OF CALIFORNIANS THROUGH DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS PROVIDING PEER COUNSELING AND NAVIGATIONAL SUPPORT TO INPATIENTS, DISCHARGED PATIENTS, AND ER PATIENTS AT ST FRANCIS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND CALIFORNIA AND SAN FRANCISCO?S YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS? SUPPORT FOR ONGOING AND GROWING BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1958.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.