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Self-Help for the Elderly

EIN 94-1750717 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SELF-HELP FOR THE ELDERLY STRIVES TO PROMOTE THE INDEPENDENCE, WELL-BEING, AND DIGNITY FOR OLDER ADULTS THROUGH CULTURALLY ALIGNED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.

Income
$36.4 million
Spending
$33.3 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
497
Volunteers
1,920
Highest pay
$291,688, 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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. $10.0 million spent. MEALS AND ACTIVITIES: SELF-HELP OPERATES MULTI-SERVICE SENIOR CENTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO, SAN MATEO, AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES. THE CENTERS PROVIDE A HOT LUNCH AND OFFER RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, TRANSLATION, INFORMATION, AND REFERRAL SERVICES. THE HOME DELIVERY MEALS PROGRAM PROVIDES MEALS TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS ONCE A DAY.
  2. $6.7 million spent. SOCIAL SERVICES/TEAM/CHANGES: THESE SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, ASSISTING CLIENTS IN COMPLETING FORMS, AND TRANSLATING FORMS AND DOCUMENTS FOR SENIORS. TELECOMMUNICATIONS EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES (TEAM) AND COMMUNITY HELP AND AWARENESS OF NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRIC SERVICES (CHANGES) PROGRAMS FOCUS ON PROVIDING OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES TO CONSUMERS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY RELATED TO TELECOMMUNICATION AND ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS BILLS AND ISSUES.
  3. $6.2 million spent. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING: THE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (ETED) IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. ETED PROVIDES TRAINING, COUNSELING AND EMPLOYMENT, WITH A MISSION TO PROVIDE QUALITY WORKFORCE SERVICES TO JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS, AND TO DEVELOP BUSINESS SERVICES THAT EMPLOY SKILLED WORKERS AND SUPPORT ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. A NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED "ONE-STOP" JOB CENTER UNDER THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRALS, JOB PREPARATION, AND PLACEMENT SERVICES.
  4. $6.8 million spent. HOUSING: THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING OPERATIONS OF PINE VIEW, AUTUMN GLOW AND LINCOLN COURT.IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SHORT-TERM PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE AND HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES TO FRAIL SENIORS.HOME HEALTH CARE: SELF-HELP IS A MEDICARE-CERTIFIED, STATE-LICENSED HOME HEALTH CARE AGENCY. SERVICES INCLUDE SKILLED NURSING, PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, AND SPEECH THERAPIES, MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICES, AND CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDE SERVICES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO A PHYSICIAN'S ORDERS AND TAKE PLACE IN THE PATIENT'S HOME.BOARD AND CARE: SELF-HELP PROVIDES PERSONAL CARE, ROUND-THE-CLOCK SUPERVISION, ACTIVITIES, ROOM, BOARD, AND HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES IN AUTUMN GLOW ALZHEIMER'S CARE HOME.ADULT DAY SERVICES: THE DAY SERVICES CENTER PROVIDES A DAY-LONG PROGRAM OF NURSING, MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICES, PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, AND SPEECH THERAPIES AND ACTIVITIES TO FRAIL SENIORS AND THOSE AFFLICTED WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR OTHER DEMENTIA.HOSPICE: SELF-HELP IS A MEDICARE-CERTIFIED AND STATE-LICENSED HOSPICE THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS. SERVICES INCLUDE SKILLED NURSING, CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDE SERVICES, MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICES, COUNSELING, AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE HOSPICE TEAM, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE HOSPICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, COLLABORATES WITH PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO DESIGN AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN OF CARE FOR THE PATIENT.

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 January 1972.

    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.