Valley Teen Ranch
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide HOPE to vulnerable children, youth, and families through life changing relationships and experiences.
- Income
- $21.5 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -52.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 70
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $102,499, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 82% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 441% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 257 of 7 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (6)
- $2.0 million spent. Two homes provide Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs that included board, care, clothing, medical cost and counseling to children who are wards of the court.
- $452,332 spent. Mental health services is directly provided to all youth in the Short-Term Therapeutic Program with specific services including: assessment, plan development, targeted case management, medication support services, individual, family or group rehabilitation/therapy, collateral, and crisis intervention.
- $352,029 spent. Foster family and adoption agency administered foster care for children referred by the court. Also included is home studies conducted for the children who are in the process of adoption.
- $308,049 spent. Unaccompanied Children's Program provides board, care, clothing, medical cost and counseling to children who are referred through the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
- $114,880 spent. Transitional Housing and Rapid Rehousing Programs provides housing, assessment, case management and life skills to homeless youth ages 18-24.
- $54,460 spent. Sierra crossing provides 95 affordable housing units for low-income individuals and families. Supportive services includes case management, life skills coaching, educational support, and assistance connecting to community resources to promote housing stability and self-sufficiency.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 February 1984.
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.