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Vista Hill Foundation

EIN 95-1944230 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 68 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, BY PROVIDING AN ARRAY OF MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

Income
$40.4 million
Spending
$37.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
576
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$384,806, ceo & president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 68 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 September 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 (8)
  1. $11.2 million spent. Stein Education CenterThe Stein Education Center provides educational, social, and training programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities, which include autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and other neurological conditions.
  2. $6.8 million spent. Donald K. Allen ParentCare Family Recovery Center (ParentCare)ParentCare provides treatment and care case management programs primarily focused on women (perinatal or peripartum) with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring behavioral health diagnoses. Programs include ParentCare East and Central, Perinatal Case Management, Dependency Drug Court, CalWORKS, Accessible Depression & Anxiety Peripartum Treatment (ADAPT) and child care.
  3. $4.2 million spent. Learning Assistance Center (LAC)LAC provides school-based mental health treatment to MediCal eligible students that are identified as having psychiatric conditions that interfere with educational progress. LAC clinicians, psychiatrists conduct assessment, case management, and treatment with students and families in coordination with school personnel.
  4. $4.0 million spent. Smart Care Integrated Behavioral Health (Smart Care)Smart Care partners with community health clinics regionally located including Ramona, Julian, Pauma Valley. The Smart Care team of consultants, educators and therapists also work closely with primary care providers at the community health clinics to provide behavioral health screening, evaluation, medication consultation and short-term therapy. Additionally, the SmartCare Behavioral Health Consultation Services (BHCS) provides real time access to psychiatric/behavioral health treatmentconsultation for primary care providers and for providers and designated clinical staff treating pediatric patients. The goal of these programs are to provide support in managing behavioral health concerns for their patients.Promote! - The Promote! program offers school age prevention and early intervention services in partnership with elementary school districts. Services include a universal, social-emotional, evidencebased/informed prevention practices as well as screening, early identification and early mental health wellness and social-emotional intervention with at-risk children in preschool through third grade at target schools.
  5. $2.7 million spent. Mental Health Contracts (MHC)MHC provides school-based mental health treatment to special education students identified by partnering school districts under contract. Services include outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient programs, behavior management and psychiatric consultation.
  6. $1.8 million spent. BridgesBridges provides prevention, early intervention, case management and treatment services to youth and adults with substance use disorders and behavioral health diagnoses. Programs include Substance Abuse Services (probation youth), Bridges Teen Treatment & Recovery Center (adolescents), Bridges Regional Recovery Center (adult co-ed), SAFIR and On-Track.
  7. $1.6 million spent. Center for Child & Youth PsychiatryThe Center for Child & Youth Psychiatry provides a range of outpatient diagnostic and treatment services for children adolescents and young adults.
  8. $376,729 spent. Vista Hill ApartmentsThe Vista Hill Apartments provides for lower cost or subsidized housing to at-risk families undergoing treatment, primarily through ParentCare.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 June 1959.

    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.