Teen Challenge of Southern California
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TEEN CHALLENGE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (THE ORGANIZATION) IS A FAITH-BASED RESIDENTIAL RECOVERY MINISTRY FOUNDED IN 1963. THROUGH TEN RESIDENTIAL AND THREE OUTREACH FACILITIES ACROSS SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, THE ORGANIZATION HELPS MEN AND WOMEN OVERCOME SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER LIFE-CONTROLLING ISSUES. PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE SPIRITUAL GROWTH, COUNSELING, EDUCATION, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING WITHIN A CHRIST-CENTERED, PEER-TO-PEER ENVIRONMENT. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST, SUSTAINED ENTIRELY BY PRIVATE DONATIONS, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO BRING LASTING RECOVERY AND LIFE TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST.
- Income
- $12.8 million
- Spending
- $16.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 159
- Volunteers
- 750
- Highest pay
- $223,711, executive director
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
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 31 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (2)
- $11.4 million spent. RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS - THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES 10 RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES THAT ARE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED IN SOME OF THE MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN ORDER TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED. ONGOING EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES INCLUDE OUTREACH AND EXPANSION TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE NETWORK CAN CURRENTLY HOUSE APPROXIMATELY 700 PEOPLE. THE TEEN CHALLENGE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM IS A MISSIONAL MOVEMENT THAT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE FAITH-BASED RECOVERY AND PREVENTION EFFORTS OF ITS KIND, SPANNING ITS REACH ACROSS THE REGION AND DEPLOYING GRADUATES THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND WORLD.
- $2.5 million spent. OUTREACH PROGRAMS - ALONG WITH ITS 3 DEDICATED OUTREACH OFFICES, ALL 10 RESIDENTIAL LOCATIONS ALSO CONDUCT OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE INTAKE INTERVIEWS, AFTER-SCHOOL LEARNING LABS AND TUTORING, DRUG DIVERSION CLASSES, SUPPORT GROUPS, JAIL AND PRISON MINISTRY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS EVENTS AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, STREET EVANGELISM AND LARGE-SCALE CRUSADES. THESE PROJECTS ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM REACH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
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 September 1969.
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.