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Walden Environment

EIN 94-2358632 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WALDEN ENVIRONMENT DBA WALDEN FAMILY SERVICES ("WALDEN") IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 1976 TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY, OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT, AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN UNABLE TO REMAIN IN THEIR OWN HOMES DUE TO ABANDONMENT, ABUSE, OR NEGLECT. WALDEN'S GOAL IS TO HELP STABILIZE CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES. WALDEN IS A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER FAMILY AND ADOPTION AGENCY ENGAGED IN THE RECRUITMENT, CERTIFICATION, AND TRAINING OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS; THE CAREFUL PLACEMENT OF FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE CHILDREN; AND HOUSING AND LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH TRANSITIONING OUT OF FOSTER CARE. WALDEN'S FUNDING COMES PRIMARILY FROM FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY WELFARE PROGRAMS. EACH YEAR, WALDEN PROVIDES SERVICES TO ROUGHLY 1,478 CHILDREN, YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS, AND FAMILIES THROUGH AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESCRIBED HERE.

Income
$24.1 million
Spending
$18.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 73%
Employees
137
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$192,139, 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

    13 of 13 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 (3)
  1. $11.6 million spent. Transitional Housing Placement (THP) Programs:WALDEN IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE THPP NMD FOR FOSTER YOUTH (18-21) WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO STAY IN EXTENDED FOSTER CARE AND PROVIDE THP PLUS PROGRAMS FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH (18-24) THROUGH COUNTY CONTRACTS. WALDEN PROVIDE HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SEVRICES.UNLIKE THE NEARLY 65% OF YOUTH WHO LEAVE FOSTER CARE WITH NO PLACE TO CALL HOME AND NO CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH IN WALDEN' S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS LEARN HOW TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN IN THE COMMUNITY, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MENTORS, AND EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE OR LEARN A VOCATION. WALDEN PROIVDE HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES TO UNHOUSED YOUTH THROUGH RIVERSIDE COUNTY.
  2. $3.3 million spent. Foster & Adoption Services:CHILDREN AND YOUTH ENTER FOSTER CARE WHEN THEIR FAMILIES ARE NOT ABLE TO SAFELY CARE FOR THEM. WALDEN'S LICENSED FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION PROGRAMS ENABLES INFANTS AND SIBLING GROUPS, TEENS AND CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES, AND SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS TO GROW UP KNOWING THE LOVE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT LIVING IN A FAMILY PROVIDES. MANY CHILDREN NEED ADDIITONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND OUR PLACED THROUGH WALDENS INTENSIVE SERVICES FOSTER CARE PROGRAM.
  3. $1.0 million spent. WALDEN PROIVDE THE FOLLOWING COMMUNTIY PROGRAMS: FIRST 5 SAN BERNARDINO NURTURING FAMILIES PROGRAM: PROVIDING PARENTING CLASSES AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SAN BERNARINDO COUNTY.EXTENDED CARE/AFTERCARE SERVICES: WALDEN PROVIDES SERVICES TO FOSTER AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH (18-21) THROUGHOUT SAN BERNADINO COUNTY, INCLUDING CASE MANAGERMENT AND EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS.INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS (ILS): WALDEN PROVIDES WEEKLY TRAINING CLASSES FOR FOSTER AND PROBATION YOUTH FOR SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. OFFICE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS (OCPSC) MESSAGING GRANT: WALDEN PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO RE-ENFORCE EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES, AND INFORMATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS AS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY MESSENGER.MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: WALDEN PROVIDE MENTAL HELATH SERVICES TO FOSTER YOUTH IN RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARIDNO COUNTIES. THE CLINICS PROVIDE THERAPY, REHABILITATION, AND OTHER APPROPRIATE SERVICES. CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN WALDEN'S OTHER DISTRICTS ARE REFERRED TO TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WALDEN STAFFARE PREPARING TO PROVIDE FAMILY CENTERED TREATMENT, AN EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE,THROUGH A STATE CAPACITY BUILDING RPOGRAM.

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 November 1977.

    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.