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Clausen House Inc

EIN 94-1639361 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 154 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

AT CLAUSEN HOUSE, OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO GAIN COMPETENCY, DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS AND JOIN THE COMMUNITY WITH INCREASING COMMAND OVER THEIR OWN LIVES. WE PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, INDEPENDENT AND SUPPORTED LIVING, SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, ADULT EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL RECREATION. WE CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF THE BAY AREA AND WORK TOWARD REFLECTING THIS DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
20.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
57
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$211,329, 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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 154 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM - CLAUSEN HOUSE PROVIDES COEDUCATIONAL HOUSING FOR ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN OUR THREE GROUP RESIDENCES, WHICH ARE SPACIOUS OLDER HOMES IN THE ADAMS POINT NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR LAKE MERRITT IN OAKLAND. OUR HOMES SERVE A TOTAL OF 37 MEN AND WOMEN, ALL OF WHOM EITHER WORK, VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITY, OR ATTEND A DAY PROGRAM OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WE EMPHASIZE INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING, AND DEVELOPING THE ABILITY TO GET ALONG WELL WITH OTHERS. FUNCTIONAL SKILL TRAINING IS PROVIDED IN COOKING, HOUSEHOLD CHORES, MONEY MANAGEMENT, EFFECTIVE USE OF LEISURE TIME, COMMUNITY SAFETY, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING. APPLICANTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM TYPICALLY HAVE MILD TO MODERATE MENTAL RETARDATION AND MAY HAVE AN ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSIS. THEY MUST BE AMBULATORY, CAPABLE OF PERFORMING BASIC SELF-CARE TASKS, ABLE TO INTERACT APPROPRIATELY WITH OTHERS, AND EXHIBIT NO AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.
  2. $598,527 spent. INDEPENDENT AND SUPPORTED LIVING PROGRAMS - CLAUSEN HOUSE'S INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES (ILS) AND SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES (SLS) ARE PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THEIR OWN HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY. IN BOTH ILS AND SLS, CLIENTS ARE GIVEN TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE WITH ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS INCLUDING MONEY MANAGEMENT, NUTRITION, HOUSING AND BENEFITS ISSUES, MEDICAL SELF-MANAGEMENT, AND MORE. INDEPENDENT AND SUPPORTED LIVING ARE VERY SIMILAR. THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE VOLUME AND TYPE OF SERVICE PROVIDED. INDEPENDENT LIVING MAY PROVIDE UP TO 40 HOURS PER MONTH OF TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE AND THE NEED FOR SERVICES ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH TO APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS PER MONTH. IN SUPPORTED LIVING, THE CLIENT MAY OBTAIN A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NUMBER OF HOURS OF SUPPORT AND INSTRUCTION AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY ASSUME A DECREASE IN SERVICE VOLUME OVER TIME. SINCE 1977, CLAUSEN HOUSE HAS PROVIDED INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES TO PEOPLE LIVING IN COMMUNITY-BASED APARTMENTS. OUR LENOX APARTMENT BUILDING CAN ACCOMMODATE ADULTS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM THEIR FAMILY OR GROUP HOME INTO GREATER INDEPENDENCE. SINCE 1993, CLAUSEN HOUSE HAS BEEN VENDORIZED BY THE REGIONAL CENTER OF THE EAST BAY (RCEB) TO PROVIDE SUPPORTED LIVING SERVICES.
  3. $526,384 spent. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM - ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING WAYS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES IS TO ACHIEVE FULL INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY. CLAUSEN HOUSE HELPS CLIENTS CHOOSE, OBTAIN, AND RETAIN INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT IN A VARIETY OF WORKPLACES. WE PROVIDE SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENTS, JOB DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT, AND ONGOING TRAINING OR COACHING TAILORED TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS. DEPENDING ON THE CLIENT'S SKILL SET AND READINESS FOR WORK, HE OR SHE MAY BE PLACED IN A GROUP THAT IS CLOSELY SUPERVISED BY A TRAINER, OR MAY RECEIVE AN INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT WITH JOB COACHING SUITED TO HIS OR HER NEEDS. OUR JOB COACHES WORK CLOSELY WITH EMPLOYERS TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE ANY ISSUES THAT MAY AFFECT JOB PERFORMANCE RESULTING IN LOYAL, MOTIVATED EMPLOYEES WITH LOW TURNOVER AND A HIGH LEVEL OF JOB SATISFACTION. CLAUSEN HOUSE'S SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS ARE VERY PLEASED WITH OUR CLIENTS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE SAME EMPLOYER FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
  4. $485,215 spent. ADULT EDUCATION & ACTIVITY PROGRAM - CLAUSEN HOUSE OFFERS CLASSES FOR PEOPLE WITH A RANGE OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WITH THE GOAL TO CHALLENGE STUDENTS INTELLECTUALLY, STIMULATE THEIR CREATIVITY, AND HELP THEM MAXIMIZE THEIR FUNCTIONAL LEVEL. STUDENTS GAIN COMPETENCY IN ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS BY TAKING PART IN CLASSES, CULTURAL EVENTS, AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES. BY LEARNING ADAPTIVE SOCIAL BEHAVIORS, STUDENTS ARE BETTER ABLE TO ACHIEVE INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY. STUDENTS ENTERING THE PROGRAM MAY HAVE LIMITATIONS IN SPOKEN AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, ACCESSING THE COMMUNITY, TASK COMPLETION, MONEY MANAGEMENT, SELF-CARE, OR THE ABILITY TO PURSUE LEISURE ACTIVITIES. ALL INSTRUCTORS HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER, AND THE INSTRUCTOR-TO-STUDENT RATIO IS 1:7. CLASSES ARE TAUGHT YEAR-ROUND YEAR-ROUND AND HELD AT THE CLAUSEN HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER AND AT OTHER LOCATIONS. OUR CURRICULUM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SKILL AREAS: FUNCTIONAL ACADEMIC SKILLS; SOCIAL SKILLS, COMMUNICATION, AND SELF-ADVOCACY; COMMUNITY INTEGRATION AND VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCES; CULTURAL ENRICHMENT; AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

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

  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 December 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 September 1997.

    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.