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Bonita House Inc

EIN 94-1735133 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVE RECOVERY, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND DEEPLY CONNECTED, MEANINGFUL LIVES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.WE DO THIS BY: DELIVERING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND HIGH-QUALITY CARE WHEN AND WHERE IT IS NEEDED, REGARDLESS OF A PERSON'S BACKGROUND OR CIRCUMSTANCES. VIEWING MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING AS OTHER PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. OFFERING A CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT THAT IS STRENGTHS/EVIDENCE-BASED, CLIENT-CENTERED, RECOVERY-FOCUSED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED. PROVIDING CLINICAL SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE VITAL CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT HEALTH, SUCH AS HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND TRANSPORTATION. CREATING A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE FOCUSED ON EMPLOYEE VALUE, CONTINUOUS LEARNING, AND STAFF WELL-BEING.

Income
$13.7 million
Spending
$13.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
158
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$214,542, 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

Weak: 47 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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. $5.0 million spent. COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND TRANSPORT TEAM (CATT)BONITA HOUSE'S COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND TRANSPORT TEAM (CATT) PAIRS A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIAN WITH AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN IN A RESPONSE VEHICLE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. OPERATING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALAMEDA COUNTY, FALCK NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND SEVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CATT RESPONDS TO 911 AND 988 CALLS INVOLVING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE EMERGENCIES, PROVIDING ON-SITE ASSESSMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CARE COORDINATION, AND CONNECTION TO THE LEAST-RESTRICTIVE, APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CARE. IN THE PAST YEAR CATT HAS PILOTED A DIRECT DISPATCH WITH OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2020 AS CALIFORNIA'S FIRST CO-RESPONSE MODEL, CATT HAS REDUCED REPEAT CRISIS CONTACTS BY 30% AND INVOLUNTARY PSYCHIATRIC HOLDS BY 25%. ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH (ARMH)IN PLEASANTON, ARMH, OUR CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF PLEASANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, RESPONDS TO 911 CALLS AS WELL AS PROVIDES OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE CITY PAIRING A PLAIN CLOSED OFFICER AND CLINICIAN IN AN UNMARKED VEHICLE, FIVE DAYS A WEEK. THIS PROGRAM ASSISTED IN PLACING MORE THAN 50% OF UNHOUSED PARTICIPANTS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, EARNING THE 2024 HELEN PUTNAM AWARD FROM THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES. IN FY24-25, WE SERVED 1,242 CLIENTS THROUGH THE CRISIS RESPONSE PROGRAM.
  2. $2.2 million spent. RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT: BONITA HOUSE'S RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM OFFERS A SAFE, STRUCTURED, AND DEEPLY SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ADULTS 18+ LIVING WITH CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. OUR 16-BED PROGRAM OPERATES 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT, DRAWING FROM INTEGRATED DUAL DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT (IDDT), COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT), SEEKING SAFETY, DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY (DBT), AND RELAPSE PREVENTION, ALONG WITH ON-SITE MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, AND PEER SUPPORT. OVER 93% OF OUR RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS HAVE JUSTICE-INVOLVED BACKGROUNDS, AND OUR TEAM IS EXPERIENCED IN DELIVERING TRAUMA-INFORMED, HARM-REDUCTION CARE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FACED THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO TREATMENT. OUR GOAL IS NOT JUST STABILIZATION; IT IS LASTING RECOVERY, HOUSING STABILITY, AND A PATH BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. IN FY24-25, WE SERVED 34 PATIENTS THROUGH OUR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. WELLNESS CENTERS: THE WELLNESS CENTERS PROVIDE A SAFE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE WELL-BEING AND RECOVERY, AND PROVIDE SOCIALIZATION IN A CARING COMMUNITY THAT FOSTERS SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WITH LOCATIONS IN EAST OAKLAND AND BERKELEY, EACH CENTER IS AN ENTRY POINT TO SYSTEM RECOVERY/SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH A BROAD RANGE OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND CO-OCCURRING CONDITIONS. THE PROGRAMS OFFER CREATIVE EXPRESSION THROUGH ART, AND PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DESIGN THEIR OWN WELLNESS PROGRAM BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS AND GOALS. SERVICES INCLUDE LINKAGES TO HOUSING, BENEFITS, AND PRIMARY CARE; CASE MANAGEMENT; HOMELESS OUTREACH AND NUTRITION SUPPORT; AND A FULL ARRAY OF PEER-DRIVEN SUPPORT GROUPS, RECREATION, WELLNESS, AND RECOVERY PROGRAMMING.
  4. $3.0 million spent. SUPPORTED INDEPENDENT LIVING THIS OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OFFERS ACCESSIBLE, COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT FOR ADULTS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY, INCLUDING PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, AND CASE-MANAGEMENT TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL'S GOALS AND NEEDS. OUR OUTPATIENT TEAM SPECIALIZES IN TREATING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS, RECOGNIZING THAT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES ARE OFTEN DEEPLY INTERCONNECTED AND BEST ADDRESSED TOGETHER. SERVICES ARE DELIVERED THROUGH A HARM-REDUCTION, RECOVERY-ORIENTED LENS BY A DIVERSE TEAM THAT REFLECTS THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WHETHER A CLIENT IS TAKING THEIR FIRST STEP TOWARD TREATMENT OR CONTINUING A LONG JOURNEY OF RECOVERY, WE MEET THEM WITH RESPECT, CONSISTENCY, AND THE FULL RANGE OF CLINICAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO BUILD A STABLE AND FULFILLING LIFE. IN FY24-25, WE SERVED 156 PATIENTS THROUGH OUR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS. PERMANENT SUPPORTING HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES LONG-TERM PERMANENT HOUSING TO UP TO 33 LOW-INCOME ADULTS WHO ARE HOMELESS, OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, AND LIVING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP CLIENTS EXPERIENCE INDEPENDENT, HEALTHY, AND SATISFYING LIVES IN THE COMMUNITIES OF THEIR CHOICE.THE CALWORKS (CALIFORNIA WORK OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO KIDS) PHOENIX SKILLS PROGRAM SERVES INDIVIDUALS WHOSE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES HAVE MADE FINDING AND KEEPING WORK FEEL OUT OF REACH, THE CALWORKS PHOENIX SKILLS PROGRAM OFFERS A DIFFERENT PATH. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALAMEDA COUNTY'S CALWORKS PROGRAM, BONITA HOUSE INTEGRATES EVIDENCE-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING STRENGTHS-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT (IPS) EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, AND SKILLS TRAINING, WITH HANDS-ON VOCATIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS SECURE AND SUSTAIN MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. WE DON'T TREAT WORK AND WELLNESS AS SEPARATE GOALS. BY ADDRESSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BARRIERS AND BUILDING VOCATIONAL SKILLS TOGETHER, WE HELP CLIENTS MOVE TOWARD FINANCIAL STABILITY, INDEPENDENCE, AND LONG-TERM WELL-BEING. IN FY20242025, BONITA HOUSE SERVED 56 CLIENTS AND EXCEEDED OUR JOB PLACEMENT TARGETS BY 42%, PLACING 31 CLIENTS IN FULL-TIME W-2 POSITIONS.THE BRIDGES TO RECOVERY IN-HOME OUTREACH TEAM (IHOT) PROGRAM SERVES INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS WHO HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE TRADITIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM, BONITA HOUSE'S IHOT MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. USING TRAUMA-INFORMED AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE STRATEGIES, OUR OUTREACH SPECIALISTS GO DIRECTLY INTO THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE ADULTS WHO ARE CLINICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT BUT ARE NOT CURRENTLY RECEIVING SERVICES. THROUGH PERSISTENT, RELATIONSHIP-BASED OUTREACH, WARM HANDOFFS TO ONGOING CARE PROVIDERS, AND STRUCTURED FOLLOW-UP, IHOT BRIDGES THE GAP FROM FIRST CONTACT TO SUSTAINED RECOVERY. SINCE 2016, WE HAVE CONNECTED MORE THAN 1,500 INDIVIDUALS TO THE SERVICES THEY NEED OUTREACHING 100% OF NEW REFERRALS WITHIN 48 HOURS AND ATTEMPTING TO LINK EVERY ELIGIBLE CLIENT TO AN INITIAL SERVICE WITHIN 90 DAYS. IN FY24-25, WE SERVED 112 IHOT CLIENTS.

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 October 13, 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 1971.

    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 October 21, 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.