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Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services

EIN 95-1647832 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE, FAMILY-CENTERED SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ENCOURAGE CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LEAD SELF RELIANT, STABLE AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES.

Income
$54.4 million
Spending
$55.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
584
Volunteers
204
Highest pay
$400,027, president/chief executive officer

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: 64 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% 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 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 (4)
  1. $17.3 million spent. FOR CHILDREN WHOSE EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, SOCIAL OR OTHER CHALLENGES PREVENT THEM FROM LIVING AT HOME, VISTA DEL MAR PROVIDES A SAFE, HOME-LIKE LIVING ENVIRONMENT WITHIN A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT SETTING. OUR PROGRAMS HELP TROUBLED CHILDREN MAKE THE TRANSITION BACK HOME OR TO SELF-SUFFICIENT COMMUNITY LIFE. OUR OPEN, 24-BED FACILITY FOR ADOLESCENT BOYS AND GIRLS IS STAFFED WITH SKILLED TEAMS OF CLINICAL SOCIAL.
  2. $16.7 million spent. VISTA DEL MAR PROVIDES A BROAD SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, YOUNG ADULTS AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING ADOPTIONS AND FOSTER HOME CARE, THROUGH OUR STATE-LICENSED, HAGUE-ACCREDITED PRIVATE ADOPTION AGENCY. WE ALSO OFFER INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING, PARENT EDUCATION, TEACHER TRAINING, AND OTHER CASE-MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT MORE THAN 20 LOS ANGELES AND SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS. WE PROVIDE CHILD CARE IN A NETWORK OF 20 STATE-LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES IN THE HOLLYWOOD AND MID-WILSHIRE AREAS, AS WELL AS IN-HOME FAMILY COUNSELING, DIRECT CHILD COUNSELING, EARLY HEAD START SERVICES AND SCHOOL READINESS PARENT-CHILD EDUCATION AND SUPPORT GROUPS, AND LINKAGE TO EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES. OUR "WRAPAROUND" SERVICES OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO OUT-OF-HOME CARE BY IDENTIFYING AND BUILDING UPON A FAMILY'S STRENGTHS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS, TO HELP THESE VULNERABLE CHILDREN TO REMAIN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
  3. $6.1 million spent. VISTA'S NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL IS ACCREDITED BY THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (WASC) AND SERVES CHILDREN, PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH GRADE 12, WHO HAVE STRUGGLED IN OTHER SCHOOL SETTINGS. AFTER ASSESSING EACH CHILD AND CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP), WE TAILOR EACH CHILD'S COURSES TO ADDRESS THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS, WHILE ENCOURAGING THEM TO GROW EMOTIONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY. IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL COURSEWORK, STUDENTS MAY PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF THERAPEUTIC ARTS CLASSES AND OTHER OFFERINGS THAT INSPIRE CONFIDENCE AS WELL AS PROVIDING INCENTIVE TO STAY IN SCHOOL. WE MAINTAIN A LOW STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO (3:1) AND OUR EDUCATIONAL AND CLINICAL STAFF CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF SUCCESS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PERSONAL CHALLENGES OF EACH CHILD'S LIFE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A POSITIVE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. APPROXIMATELY 65% OF OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AFTER GRADUATING FROM VISTA DEL MAR, AND OUR VOCATIONAL SKILLS AND WORKABILITY PROGRAMS HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP EMPLOYABLE WORK SKILLS FOR THOSE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT. OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS PROGRAM HELPS THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM TO LEARN TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN.
  4. $4.9 million spent. VISTA DEL MAR'S OUTPATIENT SERVICES PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF COUNSELING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, TRAUMA RECOVERY, AN ARRAY OF CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, AND ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND OTHER DELAYS, INCLUDING AUTISM. VISTA ALSO OFFERS CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS ADDRESSING CURRENT ISSUES IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND TREATMENT OF A VARIETY OF ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED POSTGRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAMS INCLUDE EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND CLASSES, SUPERVISION, AND CLINICAL WORK WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERS EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND SUPERVISION IN DIAGNOSTIC PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ENROLLED IN OUR OUTPATIENT THERAPY SERVICES PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATE BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES WHICH IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY FUNCTION IN SCHOOL AND IN THE COMMUNITY. PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO IDENTIFY LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF COGNITIVE SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REISS DAVIS GRADUATE PROGRAM OFFERS AN ADVANCED DEGREE TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONALS WITH EXPERTISE IN MANAGING EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE DEVELOPMENTAL SPECTRUM.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1935.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.