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Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services

EIN 95-1949862 · Baldwin Park, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services ("Ettie Lee") operates residential care facilities, a network of treatment foster homes, a substance abuse treatment program and provides an array of mental health services for young people and their families as well as a transitional housing program.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$7.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
117
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$226,384, president & ceo

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

Weak: 25 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 84% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% 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 September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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 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 (3)
  1. $3.4 million spent. Ettie Lee owns group care homes in residential neighborhoods throughout southern California. The goal for group care is for each to be as home like as possible while at the same time serving as a therapeutic setting for the participants. There are five safe and secure group care homes that serve 50 adolescents who have severe emotional and behavioral challenges. Three homes are short term Residential Treatment Programs, and two are Shelter Care sites. Fully licensed and accredited, these homes are equipped to care for six to twelve youngsters, ages 10 to 17. A team of highly trained residential care professionals provide nurturing, around the clock supervision. Services include individual, group, and family counseling; academic and vocational assistance; independent living skills training; and recreational activities. Through individualized, innovative, and flexible services the adolescents are given every opportunity to succeed, and our staff encourages family participation in treatment. Ettie Lee also provides services to help youngsters as they transition to community living or to a lower level of care.
  2. $1.6 million spent. Ettie Lee's Intensive Treatment Foster Care (ITFC) program cares for children with serious behavioral problems, who would otherwise require group care placement, and enables them to live in a family setting. This program follows the same model as the Foster Care Adoption Program; however, ITFC offers intensified services for foster youth who need extra structure and support. ITFC places only one foster child in a home where the child has an individualized treatment program and the foster parents receive specialized training and professional support twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.Ettie Lee's unaccompanied minor homes provide boys from 10 to 18 with residential care, mental health services, family reunification, educational, recreational services in a group setting.Ettie Lee Mental Health Programs extend to all of Ettie Lee programming - group care, foster care adoption, and Ettie Lee's community-based substance use disorder program and mental health services. The Mental Health Program is designed to meet the numerous mental health needs of children, youth, and families. Mental Health Services are provided using trauma informed treatment and evidence-based practices that have demonstrated positive outcomes. Services in support of the child include individual, group and family therapy, psychiatric and medication support services, therapeutic behavioral services (TBS), transition and aftercare planning, and in-home and field-based services (including assessment, consultation, case management, individual and family counseling, crisis intervention). The Mental Health Program assists system-involved youth who are not likely to return to their homes to gain caring relationships and coordinated, culturally responsive, trauma-informed support services to help them build a life worth living, establish safe, stable independent living arrangements, and develop safe, stable adult relationships and social support system. All treatment programs are evidence-based. Most services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  3. $886,467 spent. The Foster Care, Unaccompanied Minor and Adoption Homes provide children and youth, infants to 21 years old with therapeutic and other support services they need to heal and achieve safety, permanency, and well-being. Children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected are placed in licensed (residential, foster and adoption), safe, loving homes. Many times, siblings are placed together providing them a permanent place to live and thrive when their own families are not able to care for them. Whenever possible, family reunification is always the first option. Youngsters receive specialized care tailored to meet their individual needs. These services include counseling, psychological testing, psychiatric services, and emancipation assistance. In addition, assessment and evaluation, individual, family and group therapy, individual and group rehabilitation activities, case management, medication support (psychiatric assessment and evaluation, medication monitoring, and psychological assessment are provided. Aftercare services are available following a child's movement to a permanent setting to provide continuity of care as needed. Ettie Lee's Intensive Treatment Foster Care (ITFC) program cares for children with serious behavioral problems, who would otherwise require group care placement, and enables them to live in a family setting. This program follows the same model as the Foster Care Adoption Program; however, ITFC offers intensified services for foster youth who need extra structure and support. ITFC places only one foster child in a home where the child has an individualized treatment program and the foster parents receive specialized training and professional support twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.Ettie Lee's unaccompanied minor homes provide boys from 10 to 18 with residential care, mental health services, family reunification, educational, recreational services in a group setting.

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 November 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.