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California Parenting Institute

EIN 94-2541640 · Santa Rosa, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CALIFORNIA PARENTING INSTITUTE (CPI DBA CHILD PARENT INSTITUTE) IS A FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, SERVING FAMILIES THROUGHOUT SONOMA COUNTY SINCE 1978. OUR MISSION IS TO END CHILD ABUSE AND STRENGTHEN THE HEALTH OF CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND FAMILIES. CPIS CONTINUUM OF CARE INCLUDES CHILDRENS TRAUMA COUNSELING, FAMILY RESOURCE ASSISTANCE, PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES, FACILITATED SUPERVISED VISITATION, SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM, SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND A NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL (NEW DIRECTIONS) PROVIDING ADOLESCENT SPECIAL EDUCATION TRAUMA INFORMED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. WE ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES AND PROTECT CHILDREN. OUR KEY STRATEGY IS THE USE OF THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES FIVE PROTECTIVE FACTORS MODEL, WHICH IS INTEGRATED INTO ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. THE PROTECTIVE FACTORS ARE: PARENTAL RESILIENCE, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, KNOWLEDGE OF PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, CONCRETE SUPPORT IN TIMES OF NEED, AND CHILDRENS SOC

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
106
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$173,099, executive dir.

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 (1)
  1. $4.3 million spent. Parent Support Services: BEING A GREAT PARENT IS PART INTUITION AND PART EDUCATION -- BUT THE CORE OF POSITIVE PARENTING IS STRONG, HEALTHY, NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS. OUR PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS GIVE PARENTS THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR FAMILIES STRONG. LAST YEAR - 598 FAMILIES RECEIVED PARENT EDUCATION AND MENTORING SERVICES AT CPI. OUR RESOURCE NAVIGATORS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS PROVIDE SHORT-TERM ONE ON ONE ASSISTANCE TO PARENTS, LINKING THEM TO RESOURCES SUCH AS FOOD, HOUSING, CHILD CARE, EMPLOYMENT, AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. LAST YEAR, FAMILIES UTILIZED OUR FREE DIAPER SERVICE 3,210 TIMES. 787 FAMILIES ALSO BENEFITED FROM OUR OTHER CONCRETE SUPPORTS PROGRAMS INCLUDING FOOD, GAS, AND UTILITES ASSISTANCE, AND RESOURCE NAVIGATION/BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE AT OUR TWO FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER LOCATIONS.Counseling Services: AT THE HEART OF OUR MISSION AT CPI IS OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE CHILDREN AND FMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR CHILD & FAMILY COUNSELING CLINIC PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN AGED 0-18 AND THEIR FAMILIES. LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED ESSENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING TO 145 CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO STRENGTHEN PARENTAL RESILIENCE, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, KNOWLEDGE OF PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE OF CHILDREN.School-Based Services: NEW DIRECTIONS IS OUR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL SERVING STUDENTS AGED 12-22. OUR STUDENTS HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY IN SCHOOL DUE TO TRAUMA, AND NEED THE SUPPORT OF A SMALLER EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT WITH INTEGRATED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES. NEW DIRECTIONS COLLABORATED WITH 12 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION LAST YEAR IN SUPPORT OF STUDENTS WORKING TOWARDS THEIR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GOALS. LAST YEAR 100% OF THE SENIOR CLASS GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL OR COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. OUR SCHOOL-BASED THERAPISTS PROVIDED 758 COUNSELING SESSIONS ON MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THROUGH OUR TEAM SUCCESS AND JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMS.Child Abuse Prevention Council: SINCE 1978, CHILD PARENT INSTITUTE HAS BEEN LEADING THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE IN SONOMA COUNTY. WE NOT ONLY TREAT VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE, BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE CRUCIAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PREVENT IT. CPI'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALSO SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCILS FOR BOTH SONOMA AND MARIN 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 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 1988.

    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.