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Assistance League of Los Angeles

EIN 95-1641960 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF ASSISTANCE LEAGUE (R) OF LOS ANGELES SINCE 1919 IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN IN THE LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY.

Income
$9.0 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
39
Volunteers
550
Highest pay
$149,372, ceo (until 9/30/24)

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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

    9 of 9 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. $6.2 million spent. OPERATION SCHOOL BELL (OSB) PROVIDES EXTREMELY IMPOVERISHED K-5TH GRADE SCHOOLCHILDREN WITH NEW CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES. CHILDREN FROM DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES, THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR IN FOSTER CARE, HAVE IMPROVED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR, SELF-ESTEEM, AND LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THEIR PEERS AND SCHOOL ACTIVITIES WHEN THEY DO NOT "WEAR" THEIR POVERTY. THANKS TO OSB, THIS YEAR, 8,499 CHILDREN WERE GIVEN NEW CLOTHING, SHOES, SOCKS, UNDERGARMENTS, HOODIES, PERSONAL GROOMING KITS, BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BOOKS, AND A TOY AT THE LEAGUE'S HOLLYWOOD OFFICE OR VIA OUR MOBILE FACILITY, OPERATION SCHOOL BELL ON WHEELS, THAT DELIVERS THE PROGRAM AT SCHOOL SITES ACROSS LOS ANGELES. THE ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM, DEVELOPED DURING THE PANDEMIC, PREPARES INDIVIDUALIZED BACKPACKS OF ITEMS TO BE PICKED UP AT THE HOLLYWOOD OFFICE BY SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND THEN DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO THE CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. THEATRE FOR CHILDREN IS THE LONGEST-RUNNING CHILDREN'S THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES, BRINGING THE JOY OF LIVE MUSICAL THEATRE TO 11,000 UNDERSERVED AND HANDICAPPED CHILDREN THIS YEAR. THE PRODUCTIONS ARE OFFERED FREE TO CHILDREN FROM TITLE I LAUSD SCHOOLS ALONG WITH FREE BUS TRANSPORTATION. TICKETS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT REDUCED RATES TO SCHOOL GROUPS AND FOR A NOMINAL FEE TO THE PUBLIC ON WEEKENDS. ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF LOS ANGELES STRIVES TO OFFER CHILDREN AN ARTS ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCE WITH LIVE THEATRE. FOSTER CHILDREN'S RESOURCE CENTER (FCRC) PROVIDES CRITICALLY NEEDED CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES TO CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. OFTEN, FOSTER YOUTH ARE ABRUPTLY MOVED WITH FEW PERSONAL POSSESSIONS BEYOND THE CLOTHES THAT THEY ARE WEARING. 1,782 YOUTH WERE REFERRED BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS). FCRC PROVIDES THEM WITH BRAND NEW CLOTHING, UNDERGARMENTS, SOCKS, JACKETS, PAJAMAS, BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, TOYS, BOOKS, AND GROOMING KITS TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO ATTEND SCHOOL AND BOLSTER THEIR SELF-ESTEEM DURING A DIFFICULT TIME IN THEIR LIVES. PRESCHOOL LEARNING CENTER DEVELOPS ACADEMIC SKILLS IN CHILDREN AND ENCOURAGES THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. STUDIES SHOW THAT CHILDREN WHO ATTEND PRESCHOOL OUTPERFORM THEIR PEERS ACADEMICALLY AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO TO COLLEGE. ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC), THE LEAGUE'S PRESCHOOL LEARNING CENTER PROVIDES A QUALITY PRESCHOOL EDUCATION FREE OF CHARGE TO CHILDREN AGES THREE TO FIVE FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: THE LEAGUE AWARDS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FROM LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HOMELESS EDUCATION OFFICE TO HELP FUND THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION. THE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AWARD IS BASED ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, CHARACTER, AND COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES RECEIVE THE SAME FUNDING FOR FRESHMAN THROUGH SENIOR YEARS BY MAINTAINING NO LESS THAN A 2.0 GPA.PROM DAY: THE LEAGUE CREATES A POP-UP PROM DAY SHOPPING BOUTIQUE, COMPLETELY FREE FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. GIRLS ARE IDENTIFIED BY LAUSD'S HOMELESS EDUCATION OFFICE FOR PROM DAY WHERE THEY GET TO CHOOSE THE OUTFIT AND "SWAG" OF THEIR DREAMS: DRESS, SHOES, JEWELRY, HANDBAG, SHAWL, ACCESSORIES, BEAUTY AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS, DUFFLE BAG, BACKPACK, ROLLER SUITCASE, AND MORE. PROM DAY ENABLES THESE YOUNG WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT IS A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: THEIR SENIOR PROM.
  2. $1.5 million spent. COURT REFERRED VOLUNTEER CENTER (CRVC) PROGRAM OPERATES AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE GENERATING REVENUE TO HELP SUPPORT THE LEAGUE'S PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. THE CRVC PROGRAM IS IN SEVEN COURTHOUSES THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THE PROGRAM REFERS CLIENTS TO VARIOUS NONPROFIT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO FULFILL THEIR COURT-MANDATED COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, CRVC CONNECTED MORE THAN 8,200 AGELENOS TO COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES REPRESENTING MORE THAN 547,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS.

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 January 1938.

    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.