Tierra Del Sol Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Tierra del Sol visualizes a world in which all people live productive and personally meaningful lives. Our mission is to champion inclusion and value for all individuals with disabilities through creative pathways to employment, education, and the arts. We lead with our values: Person-Centeredness, Passion, Honesty, Respect, and Full Engagement in all that we do.
- Income
- $29.2 million
- Spending
- $26.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 578
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $255,837, president & 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
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 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 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 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 (2)
- $19.4 million spent. To achieve productive and meaningful lives, Tierra del Sol provides a wide array of supports and services to more than 800 adults with developmental disabilities. Included in these services, but not limited to, are all aspects of job supports (i.e. job development, job preparation, job placement, and job retention), life quality supports (i.e. communication skills, mobility skills, stress management and healthy relationship skills), and digital divide supports (i.e. social media supports, basic email/calendar organization/maintenance, and professional communication).See Schedule O for more details. For a small portion of these individuals supported in workforce development activities, we provide a wide array of Careers in the Arts services. These services include, but are not limited to, professional portfolio design and management, curatorial services, and art education services. Tierra del Sol houses two state-of-the-art studios, one in Sunland and one in Upland, as well as an art gallery in West Hollywood, for artists to achieve their personal and professional goals towards a fulfilling art career.
- $4.0 million spent. For some individuals we support, a college-level curriculum is not out of reach. Tierra del Sol has developed innovative and unique strategies to support college-level individuals with developmental disabilities to successfully navigate and graduate from the college environment. Upon graduation or completion, students are able, if they so choose, to participate in a year-long internship program to launch each person successfully into the world of work and career based on individual interests and education.
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
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 June 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 February 1971.
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.
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.