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Circuit Rider Community Services

EIN 94-2345807 · Windsor, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN LIVES, THE LIVES OF OTHERS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT WE SHARE.

Income
$848,073
Spending
$913,586
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
28
Volunteers
63
Highest pay
$117,717, 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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 94% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (5)
  1. $429,153 spent. IN FY2024-25, CIRCUIT RIDER'S ENVIRONMENTAL CREWS EMPLOYED 18 YOUNG ADULTS AND CARRIED OUT OVER 24 PROJECTS, LASTING FROM ONE DAY TO MULTIPLE MONTHS PER PROJECT, IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:- FIRE FUELS MANAGEMENT FOR DEFENSIBLE SPACE CREATION AND ROADSIDE CLEARING/EGRESS- WATERSHED AND STREAM RESTORATIONS PROJECTS, INCLUDING INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL, NATIVE SPECIES PLANTING, AND PROJECT MONITORING- STREAM MAINTENANCE SERVICES TO IMPROVE NATIVE HABITAT AND FLOOD CONVEYANCE- VEGETATED BIOSWALE AND LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURE MAINTENANCE- NATIVE PLANT ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPINGMANY CIRCUIT RIDER CREW MEMBERS WENT ON TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AT LOCAL COLLEGES AND SEVERAL OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT WITH PARTNER AGENCIES INCLUDING SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY, CITY OF SANTA ROSA, CITY OF HEALDSBURG AND TOWN OF WIDSOR.CIRCUIT RIDER PROVIDES YEAR ROUND JOB TRAINING TO YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.
  2. $337,541 spent. VISTA ACADEMY: JUVENILE JUSTICE ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION PROGRAM:CIRCUIT RIDER OPERATES SONOMA COUNTY'S FIRST AND ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION EVENING REPORTING CENTER FOR COURT-ORDERED YOUTH. THESE YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN NUMEROUS EVIDENCE-BASED, PRO-SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING THE ART (AGGRESSION REPLACEMENT TRAINING)CURRICULUM, STRUCTURED TO ASSIST JUVENILE OFFENDERS TO DEVELOP ETHICAL VALUES AND GAIN SKILLS THAT REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF RE-ARREST AND RECIDIVISM. THE EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA UTILIZED BY CIRCUIT RIDER'S MULTI-FACETED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAM IS RECOGNIZED BY THE SONOMA COUNTY UPSTREAM INVESTMENTS PORTFOLIO INITIATIVE.100% OF PARTICIPANTS COMPLETED 10 WEEKS OF ART AND THE POST-MEASURE "SKILLSTREAMING CHECKLIST"100% OF THESE PARTICIPANTS REPORTED AN INCREASE IN BEGINNING SOCIAL SKILLS100% REPORTED AN INCREASE IN SKILLS DEALING WITH FEELINGS100% REPORTED AN INCREASE IN SKILLS FOR DEALING WITH AGGRESSION100% REPORTED AN INCREASE IN SKILLS FOR DEALING WITH STRESS100% REPORTED AN INCREASE IN PLANNING SKILLS
  3. $24,532 spent. WINDSOR WHEELS: VOLUNTEER DRIVER PROGRAM: CIRCUIT RIDER OPERATES THE ONLY VOLUNTEER DRIVER PROGRAM IN THE WINDSOR AND NORTH SANTA ROSA AREA,ALLOWING LOCAL SENIORS THE DIGNITY TO AGE-IN-PLACE. IN FY2024-25, CIRCUIT RIDER PROVIDED 408 RIDES TO LOW INCOME SENIORS IN SANTA ROSA AND WINDSOR.
  4. $10,878 spent. CAREER EXPLORATION SERVICES: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SONOMA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION (SCOE), CIRCUIT RIDER PROVIDED CAREER EXPLORATION SERVICES AND LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TO STUDENTS AT HEADWATERS ACADEMY, AN ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL. YOUTH SERVED IN FY2024-25 12 STUDENTS.
  5. SONOMAWORKS: JOB SEARCH SERVICES PROGRAM: ALL SONOMAWORKS CLIENTS HAVE SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN WHO, DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WERE EITHER AT HOME OR LEARNING REMOTELY. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE COUNTY DID NOT REQUIRE WELFARE-TO-WORK CLIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SONOMAWORKS WHICH HAS RESULTED IN FEWER PARTICIPANTS ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN THE PROGRAM.OUR FY2024-25 NUMBERS ARE:JOB SEARCH SERVICES (JSS): 4 REFERRALS RECEIVED- 2 OF 4 (50%) ATTENDED- 2 OF 2 (100%) WHO ATTENDED GAINED EMPLOYMENT

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 June 1976.

    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.