Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Mission Statement: Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County addresses the causes of poverty, empowering low-income people to achieve self-sufficiency through community-based collaborations and programs.Vision Statement: Creating communities where all people have equal opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency.
- Income
- $127.6 million
- Spending
- $127.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 1,192
- Volunteers
- 729
- Highest pay
- $236,445, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 51 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 63% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 March 31, 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 (9)
- $45.9 million spent. Migrant & Seasonal Head Start (MSHS), Migrant & Seasonal Early Head Start (MSEHS), and Migrant Early Head Start Child Care Partnership (Expenses - $45,894,083) (Revenue - $45,894,083)The MSHS Programs provide low-income migrant and seasonal farmworker families with programs that are funded to serve 1,937 children, including 335 served in Fresno County by our delegate agency. The high-quality, comprehensive child development programs serve from pre-natal stages to five years of age and operate in the nine California counties of Fresno, Kern, Monterey, Orange, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. Full-day services are provided in center-based and family child care options that operate five days per week for 7-8 months during peak agricultural periods. The program applied for a no-cost reduction in the number of children to be served. It was approved for a 26% reduction in children, from a required total of 2,610 to 1,937 children. Savings from this reduction were reprogrammed to salaries and benefits for the staff in order to retain staff and stay competitive and to support higher costs in operating facilities. The Migrant Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant operates in Kern and Ventura counties. This grant provides funding to enable the Agency to meet the unique needs of 70 migrant at-risk children and pregnant moms who work in the agricultural fields throughout the two-county service area.
- $26.2 million spent. Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Programs (Expenses - $26,221,390) (Revenue - $26,221,390)The Head Start and Early Head Start Programs operate in San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Diego, and Monterey counties, funded to serve 438 Head Start and 332 Early Head Start income-eligible and at-risk children, pregnant women, and families in a comprehensive program responding to their emotional, social, health, and nutritional needs. In 2024, the program applied for a no-cost reduction in the number of children to be served. It was approved for a 38% reduction in children, from a required total of 1,242 to 770 children. Savings from this reduction were reprogrammed to salaries and benefits for the staff in order to retain staff and stay competitive and to support higher costs in operating facilities. Through community participation, staff development, and family involvement, the Agencys goal is to provide children with a successful beginning, leading to a better future, and help parents move toward self-sufficiency. The Early Head Start Child Care Partnership grant operates in San Luis Obispo and Kern counties. The funds provide for collaborative relationships with local partners to deliver comprehensive child care services to 140 additional Early Head Start children birth to three years old and pregnant women in disadvantaged communities within these counties. The program also was granted a no-cost reduction of 15% in children to be served, from 164 to 140.
- $21.0 million spent. Child Care Resource Connection (CCRC) (Expenses - $21,029,321) (Revenue - $21,029,321)The Agencys Child Care Resource Connection (CCRC) helps parents and community members find child care through the Resource and Referral Program. The Alternative Payment Program provides eligible parents/caretakers with financial assistance to offset child care costs to pursue job training, employment, or further their education. The program served 2,200 children from 1,395 families and also offered training and licensing assistance to those who wanted to become child care providers. A Toy and Resource Lending Library is open to the public and serves to connect families with local and state resources dedicated to creating a safe environment for all children.
- $14.7 million spent. State Child Development Programs (Expenses - $14,672,535)(Revenue - $14,672,535)The program provides high-quality, full and part-day child care for approximately 2,077 children, birth through five years of age, in 8 counties: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Joaquin, San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, and Fresno. Families typically pay a fee for services provided based on their income and an established sliding scale.
- $7.6 million spent. Sheltering and Veterans Services Programs (Expenses - $7,565,510) (Revenue - $7,613,417)Through the Coordinated Entry Program, staff worked to assess client needs and provide referrals to assist in securing available public resources for 1,770 clients. Case managers worked with clients to stabilize income and/or obtain permanent housing or housing support. Outreach received a total of 4,659 contacts. A total of 270 households were successfully housed.Homeless Service programs shelter, feed, and offer an array of services to those facing a housing crisis throughout San Luis Obispo County, with the goal of helping individuals achieve stability and self-sufficiency. At 40 Prado Homeless Services Center volunteers are recruited and utilized in a variety of capacities to support shelter services. 39,650 total shelter nights were provided through our evening program. The Agency also provided a safe parking program operated seven days per week and a seasonal warming station. A total of 81,552 breakfasts and dinners were provided. Additional services include a 10-bed recuperative care program as well as day sheltering, laundry services, mental health counseling, alcohol/narcotics anonymous (AA/NA) groups, a pet kennel, and access to social services for approximately 137 individuals daily. Community Health Centers of the Central Coast are also offering primary care services 4 days a week on-site.Veterans Programs include the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program (SSVF). SSVF provides eligible veteran families, who are either homeless or very low-income, with outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining Veterans Administration (VA) and other benefits to acquire permanent housing on a sustainable basis. This may include transportation and move in costs to support retention of housing.A total of 177 individuals were served representing 139 households. Additionally, 110 individuals were housed.
- $3.3 million spent. Health and Prevention Services Program (Expenses - $3,294,368) (Revenue - $3,364,951) The programs provide reproductive health care medical services, education, and advocacy. The focus is on prevention: age-appropriate sexuality education for county school districts, youth development, free to low-cost reproductive health care services including teen peer clinics, and menopausal services, as well as the removal of gang and anti-social tattoos.The two clinics, located in the cities of San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande, served 6,858 unduplicated clients. The tattoo removal program located at the Arroyo Grande Clinic served 80 clients. The program has broadened access by offering mobile clinic health and prevention services, throughout San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties, serving a total of 187 unique individuals in over 287 visits.The Teen Wellness programs served 3,215 individuals in partnership with school districts throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties to provide the education and tools necessary to empower youth to take action for their health regarding health education, mental health, and domestic and sexual violence.
- $3.2 million spent. Energy Conservation programs (Expenses - $3,235,678) (Revenue - $3,202,052)The Energy Conservation Programs offer free energy-saving home improvements and minor home repairs to qualified lower-income households.Programs funded by PG&E provided 529 households with basic weatherization services in San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and Monterey counties. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program assisted 373 households with weatherization services, heating and cooling, and water heater replacements. These programs cut monthly bills through the installation of weather-stripping, insulation, and efficient lighting. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) program assisted 1,006 qualified households with payment of their utilities. Minor repairs, including handicap access, were performed for 727 households through funding provided by the Area Agency on Aging and the Community Development Block Grants Home Repair Programs.
- $2.3 million spent. Child Care Food Programs (Expenses - $2,323,642)(Revenue - $2,323,642)The programs provide healthy meals to children eligible to participate in the Child Care Food Program administered by the California Department of Social Services. Approximately 397,407 meals/snacks were served to children in centers in San Luis Obispo County and in our outlying service areas extending from San Diego County in the south to San Joaquin County in the north. Additionally 451,962 meals were served to children enrolled in child care through the CCRC program for a total of 849,369 meals.
- $1.9 million spent. Family and Community Support Services (Expenses - $1,923,910)(Revenue - $1,923,910)Family and Community Support Services programs include Direct Services and Services Affirming Family Empowerment (SAFE). These contracts assist families to meet their basic needs to achieve a stable, safe home environment and sustain self-sufficiency. A range of services are provided to minimize family stressors, ensure child safety, and support family well-being. A total of 867 families were served by these programs. The Adult Day Care program offers a licensed, social model day care program in North San Luis Obispo County that accommodates 15 to 20 adults daily. The program provides a safe and stimulating environment for frail elderly adults who may have significant memory loss or dementia. The center operates five days per week and is designed to meet the needs of working families. A full, hot lunch is served daily, and paid staff and volunteers provide care and activities.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 May 1966.
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.
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