Optimist Boys Home & Ranch
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to support children/youth, and their families, in and at-risk of foster care, to build hope and achieve bright futures through wellness, education, relationships, and career focused services and resources.
- Income
- $16.0 million
- Spending
- $15.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 92%
- Employees
- 180
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $316,436, ceo (end 8/24)
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 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 (4)
- $5.5 million spent. Mental Health:Optimist's comprehensive community mental health program (CMH) is funded through the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, and is guided by wraparound and whole person care principles and practices. The CMH program provides services to children, youth age 0-26, and their families, who are experiencing significant emotional, psychological, or behavioral problems or are at risk of entering a higher level of care. CMH services include individual and family therapy, and evidence-based practice (EBP) treatment models that are delivered in the field or at one of our three service locations (Palmdale, Woodland Hills or Highland Park).In addition, Optimist's Wraparound program focuses on improving a family's ability to use their strengths and skills to develop and carry out plans that meet the youth's needs and maintain stable placement. While the family system is actively engaged, the youth is the primary client, and services are designed to support their safety, well-being, and long-term stability. Placement stabilization includes assisting youth in returning home and/or successfully remaining at home, preventing future disruptions, reducing mental health symptoms, improving family functioning, and preventing psychiatric hospitalization. The agency served 919 clients in its mental health programs.
- $3.4 million spent. Short-term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP):Optimist's specialized STRTP provides girls ages 12-17, and non-minor dependents (NMDs), who are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), with safe and immediate care and housing assistance, case management, and other support services for up to 6 months. Program staff partner with each youth, their CSW (Children's Social Worker), and Child and Family Team to co-develop highly individualized strength-based programming and care plan based on their unique needs. The goals of the program include the successful transition to permanent housing, improved mental wellness, resilience and social support, improved attitudes towards school and career, and progression in school or career goals.Our Short-term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) has one location and we had one cottage at our Woodland Hills Campus serving STRTP youth. Clients are referred by Los Angeles County Departments of Probation or Children and Family Services. The residents receive intensive care, supervision, and therapeutic services from an interdisciplinary care team. We follow the core practice model, services are trauma informed, and evidence-based practices are utilized.The agency served 9 youth in the STRTP program. Additionally, the agency provides CSEC Advocacy services and served 73 youth.Therapeutic Shelter Homes (TSH):TSH is an alternative to shelter placement. The primary focus is to provide temporary housing in a home setting to assist with support, and stabilization. Youth are placed in the TSH home for a brief period (up to 10 days) while the County continues to search for permanent placement. Staff at Optimist TSH works directly with the resource parents by assisting with intake, crisis intervention, and ongoing support while the youth is placed in TSH.
- $1.0 million spent. Foster Care:Optimist's Foster Family Agency program recruits and trains resource parents to care for children and youth, ages 0-17 and non-minor dependents (NMDs) ages 18-21, who are removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect and placed in foster care by the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and court order. FFA social workers monitor child treatment plan progress in partnership with DCFS, Mental Health Services (MHS) providers, and child and family team (CFT) members. The goal of Optimist's FFA program is to provide innovative and individualized treatment and education and support services to children and NMDs in foster care to establish stability within families and communities.Intensive Services Foster care (ISFC):Optimist's ISFC program serves children, youth, and NMDs with complex needs who require more support than is offered through a traditional foster care program. Optimist carefully matches youth to a highly trained ISFC resource family that provides day-to-day care, with one youth assigned per home. ISFC resource families are both caregivers and active members of the therapeutic team, ensuring that supports and strategies are consistently implemented in the home. The ISFC program utilizes an evidence-based approach to treatment developed and trained by Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO). When reunification is not possible with children in the FFA program, Optimist Adoption Agency works jointly with DCFS to approve and finalize adoptions. Adoptions staff complete the home studies, pre-placement documentation, adoptive placement, and finalization process by working jointly with DCFS adoptions and an adoption attorney. Staff also offer support and education to adoptive families throughout this process and supervise children in adoptive placement with our agency until finalization. The agency served 52 children and youth in resource families and 6 adoptions through the agency.
- $2.6 million spent. Transitional Living Services (TLS): Located at Optimist's Highland Park campus, the TLS program is a housing-first, harm-reduction, trauma-informed services housing model for young adults (ages 18-21) enrolled in extended foster care. The TLS program provides young adults with a temporary living setting (up to 4 months), with the goal of identifying permanent living arrangements for youth who have experienced a disruption in their living situation. The program served 89 youth and the housing program for our LACCD served 22 students. Enhanced Care Management (ECM): A program that acts as a bridge between healthcare and social service systems, ensuring individuals with the most complex needs - such as a heart condition, diabetes, or other medical diagnoses referred by a doctor - are not overlooked. Care is coordinated by a multidisciplinary team that may include case managers, care coordinators, social workers, medical providers, behavioral health clinicians, and community-based partners, all working together around the individual. Through close collaboration with doctors, specialists, managed care plans, housing providers, and social service agencies, ECM connects people to the right health, behavioral, housing, and community supports at the right time. By aligning care across systems and building trusted relationships, ECM ensures individuals are served holistically, so no part of their care falls through the cracks. This program served 414 clients.Family Preservation: A program that started in September 2024, Optimist's Family Preservation Program is a strengths-based, in-home program that promotes the safety and well-being of children and their families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services or Probation. The program actively seeks to obtain or directly provide the critical services needed by the family in their home to enable the family to remain together in a safe and stable environment. The primary goal is to enhance the parent/caregiver's ability to create a safe, nurturing home environment that promotes healthy child development. Family Preservation centers the needs of the entire family. The program served 372 clients (119 caregivers and 253 children).CSEC Advocacy: Optimist's Advocacy Program provides services to children and NMD's ages 12-18, referred by DCFS/probation, who are at high risk or are survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE). The Advocacy Program services include 24/7 First Responder Protocol (FRP) and support services for participants and their caregivers. The goal of the program is to increase placement stability/permanency and reduce recurrence of exploitation and re-entry into foster care. The program served 131 clients.The Leading Optimism Los Angeles (LOLA) Clubhouse: LOLA Clubhouse is a non-clinical, community-based program serving transition-age youth with serious mental health challenges. Operating under the globally recognized International Clubhouse Model, LOLA Clubhouse provides structured, membership-driven supports that promote psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational skill development, and community integration. Members engage in a work-ordered day with defined roles and responsibilities that support routine, accountability, and skill-building, while also receiving mentorship and linkage to housing, education, employment, behavioral health, and social services. Through strengths-based engagement and peer support, the Clubhouse aims to reduce isolation, improve functioning, and support long-term stability, independence, and community participation. The program served 56 residents.Adoption Promotion and Support Services (APSS): APSS provides adoption-focused specialized services to offer solutions and support to clients while acknowledging the significance of trauma and loss that created the adoption opportunity. The program serves both pre-adoption and post-adoption children and families. The core APSS adoption focused services offered include: Case Management Services, Individual and Family Therapy, Parenting, Adult and Child Mentor Services, Adult and Child Support Groups, and Community Training Workshops for professionals and community members. The purpose of the program is to encourage and expedite adoptions of LA County DCFS and Probation foster children, and NMD's. APSS also serves to maintain children and NMD's, previously in care, in safe and loving adoptive homes. This program served 44 clients.
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 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 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 March 1941.
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.