Nami California
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NAMI California is a Grass Roots Organization of Families and Individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness. We advocate for lives of quality and respect, without discrimination and stigma, for all constituents. We provide leadership in advocacy, legislation, policy development, education and support throughout California.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 72%
- Employees
- 54
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $253,604, 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
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 64% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 90 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (5)
- $1.4 million spent. The NAMI California Annual Conference is an event that attracts more than 600 people each year and brings forth information about treatment modalities that foster recovery, self-help programs, and family/community support service.
- $1.3 million spent. We manage various programs that support the values of the California Mental Health Services Act. The program goals and objectives include community collaboration, cultural competence, client/family-driven mental health system for children, transition age youth, adults, older adults, family-driven system of care for children and youth, wellness focus, including recovery and resilience, and integrated mental health system service experiences and interactions.
- $841,352 spent. NAMI California is an active legislative advocate for California families and ensures consumer voices are heard and focused on mental health policy legislation.
- NAMI California Criminal Justice Programs include Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) to increase positive outcomes between city police and the homeless community, persons with mental health needs and high-risk youth populations; inmate rehabilitation and re-entry program that provides services to link offenders to a range of community-based, rehabilitation services that include mental health care; and inmate health and mental health program.
- NAMI California has 52 Affiliates throughout the state of California. Each of the affiliates has different needs based on its size, location, and availability of community resources. Each of the affiliates holds regular meetings, offers education and support programs for families and consumers, and provides different types of community education (Speaker's Bureau, Educational Material, etc.). In addition, each affiliate offers other education programs based on where it is located, its size (from 10 to approximately 500 members), its existing community resources, and the resources available to the affiliate. In order to appropriately support the affiliates, it is essential that NAMI California supports what the affiliate are doing and assists them, whenever possible, in carrying out their goals. NAMI California, therefore, offers a range of programs and services that every affiliate may elect to provide at a local level. NAMI California is very active in seeking funding to make all programs available to every affiliate. NAMI Peer-to-Peer Recovery Education:This course offers people with mental illness information that will assist them in learning how to "live well with mental illness." The nine-week program uses a combination of lecture, interactive exercises and structured group process to promote awareness, provide information, and offer opportunities to reflect on the impact of mental illness as it expresses itself uniquely through each participant's life. The curriculum includes comprehensive information on the biological bases of mental illness; personal and interpersonal awareness; effectiveness and coping skills; relapse prevention; and information on addictions, spirituality, and basic self care. This course is available in Spanish. NAMI Family-to-Family education:This course places emphasis on family healing, providing insights into and resolution of the profound distress experienced by families and their close relatives as they struggle to cope with serious and persistent mental illness. The 12-week curriculum offers a wide range of information about mental illness, and assists caregivers in understanding how the experience of living with mental illness affects their family member. this course is available in Spanish.NAMI California is also working to increase use of technology for registration, participation data management, and seminar evaluation which will in turn increase training, education and support opportunities for families. NAMI Support Groups:The NAMI Support group model offers a set of key structures and group processes for facilitators to use in common support group scenarios, Facilitator training is available; however, affiliates are not required to receive this specific training in order to provide support groups at the local level.NAMI on Campus High School (NCHS):Clubs are student-led clubs that raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma on campus through peer led activities and education. Student leaders will be empowered with toolkits, material, templates, and resources to make running the club a fun and educational process.NAMI Provider Education:This program is designed for mental health service providers and their staff and is co-taught by consumers, professionals, and family members. This 10-week course presents a penetrating, subjective view of family and consumer experiences to providers and line staff at public agencies who work directly with people with severe and persistent mental illness. The course reflects a new knowledge base, the "Lived experiences" of coping with mental illness or caring for someone who struggles with this life-long challenge.NAMI Basic Education Program:This signature education program is for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illness. The course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13 years. The six 2 1/2 hour classes of instructional material, discussions, and interactive exercises assist parents of children and adolescents in understanding mental illnesses and empowers them to become effective advocates for their children. All instructions and course material are fee to class participants. In Our Own Voice: Living with Mental Illness:In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique public education program in which two trained consumer speakers share compelling stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery. IOOV is an opportunity for those who have struggled with mental illness to gain confidence and to share their individual experiences of recover and transformation. IOOV presentations are given to consumer groups, students, law enforcement officials, educators, providers, faith community members, politicians, professionals, inmates, and interested civic groups.MIAW (Mental Illness Awareness Week):Established in 1990 by congress, the first week of October is designated as mental illness awareness week. Every October, this NAMI tradition presents at all levels of the NAMI Organization - national, state, and local - through a variety of outreach, educational, and advocacy efforts. Parents and Teachers as Allies:Parents and Teachers as Allies is an in-service mental health education program for school professionals. This one to two-hour in-service program focuses on helping school professional and families within the school community better understand the early waning signs of mental illness in children and adolescents and how best to intervene so that youth with mental health treatment needs are linked with services. It also covers the lived experience of mental illness and how schools can best communicate with families about mental illness health related concerns. NAMI Connection:This ongoing support group for people facing the challenges of recovering from a severe and persistent mental illness provides a forum in which people with mental illness learn from each
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 November 6, 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 April 1981.
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 November 4, 2026.
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