Catalyst Family Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AT CATALYST FAMILY, INC., WE BELIEVE THAT STRONG FAMILIES BUILD STRONG COMMUNITIES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO NURTURING VIBRANT COMMUNITIES WHERE CHILDREN THRIVE AND FAMILIES SUCCEED, CREATING LASTING CHANGE.
- Income
- $122.0 million
- Spending
- $119.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 57%
- Employees
- 2,049
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $484,306, president and chair of the board
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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 92% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $85.2 million spent. CATALYST FAMILY, INC. (CFI) PROVIDES PARENTS WITH CHILDCARE THROUGH THEIR CENTERBASED, MIGRANT CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. CATALYST OPERATES APPROXIMATELY 151 LICENSED CENTERS/LOCATIONS IN THE STATE SERVING APPROXIMATELY 10,436 CHILDREN PER MONTH.
- $6.2 million spent. CFI HELPS PARENTS FIND CHILD CARE THROUGH A RESOURCE & REFERRAL NETWORK USING ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT (PARENTAL CHOICE) AND CALWORKS PROGRAMS TO GIVE PARENTS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE IF THEY WISH TO PURSUE JOB TRAINING, FIND EMPLOYMENT OR FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION.
- $13.7 million spent. CFI ALSO PROVIDES PARENTS WITH EXTENDED CARE THROUGH ITS EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAMS. CATALYST PARTNERS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN VARIOUS COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES. CATALYST OPERATES APPROXIMATELY 58 EXPANDED LEARNING LOCATIONS, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 4,440 CHILDREN PER MONTH.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1977.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.