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Child Guidance Center Inc

EIN 95-2546170 · Santa Ana, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EMPOWER CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH INNOVATIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

Income
$13.7 million
Spending
$13.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
144
Volunteers
51
Highest pay
$245,946, general member of the boar/ ceo

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: 57 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

    14 of 14 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. $10.3 million spent. CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER PREVENTS AND TREATS MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES OF CHILDHOOD BY PROVIDING TREATMENT, EDUCATION, CONSULTATION, AND OUTREACH SERVICES TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND THE COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS WHICH SERVE THEM.
  2. $805,735 spent. CGC'S STRONG FAMILY STRONG CHILDREN PROGRAM (SFSC) PROVIDES A COORDINATED, COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF CULTURALLY COMPETENT SERVICES, SUPPORTS, AND EVALUATION TO MEET THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF MILITARY CONNECTED FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING, LEGAL SUPPORT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ARE EXTENDED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, RESERVE, GUARD, AND THE FALLEN IN ORANGE COUNTY.
  3. $235,543 spent. CGC HAS SEVERAL HIGHLY SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS. OUR CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM (CHAT) HAS BEEN TREATING CHILD VICTIMS OF CRIME IN ORANGE COUNTY FOR OVER 25 YEARS. CHAT CLINICIANS WORK EXTENSIVELY WITH CHILD VICTIMS AND THEIR NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS, UTILIZING THE LATEST EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE TREATMENTS, CONSISTING OF TRAUMA-FOCUSED COGNITIVE THERAPY (TF-CBT), PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION THERAPY (PCIT), PARENT-CHILD CARE (PC-CARE), EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR), WHICH ARE PROVEN TO BE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN ADDRESSING TRAUMA, ABUSE, NEGLECT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXPOSURE, SUBSTANCE USE, AS WELL AS CHRONIC DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY.
  4. $622,914 spent. CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER PROVIDES EXTENSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE AND ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR ITS CLINICAL STAFF, UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE-LEVEL STUDENTS, COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, SCHOOLS, AND TO THE PUBLIC. CGC'S DEDICATION TO TRAINING IN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES AND OTHER METHODS INCLUDE: TRAUMA-FOCUSED COGNITIVE THERAPY (TF-CBT), PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION THERAPY (PCIT), PARENT-CHILD CARE (PC-CARE), EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR), ADULT & YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, MILITARY FAMILY 101, AND A FULL-RANGE OF MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS GEARED TO HELP FAMILIES IN ORANGE COUNTY.CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER ALSO PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE CARE MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION OF HEALTH AND HEALTH RELATED CARE AND SERVICES TO CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES, CONNECTING THEM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES ENSURING THAT THEY GET THE CARE THEY NEED TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES.

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 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 June 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 May 1968.

    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.