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Guidance Center

EIN 95-1691017 · Long Beach, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GUIDANCE CENTER PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND ABUSE, LEADING THEM TOWARD A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE FUTURE.

Income
$23.0 million
Spending
$21.6 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
218
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$320,111, 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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 25

    12 of 12 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 (3)
  1. $12.1 million spent. OUTPATIENT SERVICES:MENTAL HEALTH CARE IS PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE CARE SERVICES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS SPONSORED BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH (DMH) AND OTHER CONTRACT AND GRANT-BASED PROGRAMS. THE GUIDANCE CENTER SERVED OVER 2,974 CLIENTS DURING THE YEAR AND OVER 75,422 HOURS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THREE CLINIC FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, TRAINING IS PROVIDED TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN PERFORMING AND DOCUMENTING THESE SERVICES UNDER DMH STANDARDS.
  2. $3.1 million spent. SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM:MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO CHILDREN AND TEENS AT 24 SCHOOLS WITHIN THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS 15 SCHOOLS IN THE PARAMOUNT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, 5 SCHOOLS IN THE LYNWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND 16 IN LAUSD. THE PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO ARE RETICENT TO APPROACH A TRADITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE CLINIC FOR SERVICES. PROGRAM COORDINATORS WORK CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN WHOSE BEHAVIOR IS INTERFERING WITH THEIR ABILITY TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY IN SCHOOL OR AT HOME. THERAPISTS PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND GROUP THERAPY AT THE SCHOOL SITE OR IN THE CHILD'S HOME, WORKING TO INCREASE THE CHILD'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION AT SCHOOL, HOME AND THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $2.8 million spent. INTENSIVE SERVICES:THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES, WHO ARE AT RISK OF OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT SUCH AS FOSTER CARE, PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION, OR JUVENILE DETENTION. STAFF MEMBERS WORK WITH CLIENTS IN A COMMUNITY SETTING , AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, OR IN COURTS TO HELP THE CHILDREN REDUCE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION, ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE DISORDER, PAST TRAUMA, AND TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. STAFF ALSO HELP CLIENTS MANAGE THEIR ANGER, INCREASE COPING SKILLS, REDUCE FAMILY CONFLICT, AND INCREASE SELF-ESTEEM.

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 June 1971.

    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.

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