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Alternative Family Services Inc

EIN 94-2427088 · Santa Rosa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF STABILITY, SAFETY, AND WELLBEING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$30.0 million
Spending
$29.5 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
260
Volunteers
255
Highest pay
$351,593, chief financial officer

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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% 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

    16 of 17 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 (2)
  1. $17.0 million spent. ALTERNATIVE FAMILY SERVICES, INC. (AFS), IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1978. AFS RECEIVES ITS PRIMARY FUNDING FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENTS. LICENSED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AS A FOSTER FAMILY AGENCY, AFS PROVIDES THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE FOR CHILDREN IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS INCLUDING SHORT-TERM SHELTER CARE, LONG-TERM FOSTER CARE, INTENSIVE TREATMENT FOSTER CARE, AND FOSTER CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. AFS IS ALSO LICENSED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AS AN ADOPTION AGENCY. IT HELPS FOSTER PARENTS LEGALLY ADOPT THEIR FOSTER CHILDREN. ADDITIONALLY, AFS OPERATES INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS PROGRAMS TO PREPARE OLDER FOSTER YOUTH FOR EMANCIPATION IN MARIN COUNTY AS WELL AS A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS HOUSING AND OTHER SUPPORTS TO FORMER FOSTER YOUTH IN MARIN COUNTY.
  2. $8.2 million spent. AFS OPERATES MEDI-CAL FUNDED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ON COUNTY CONTRACTS IN SAN FRANCISCO, ALAMEDA, SONOMA, CONTRA COSTA, SAN MATEO, AND SACRAMENTO COUNTIES.

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 September 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 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.