Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Serving Seniors

EIN 95-2850121 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To provide impactful programs and services to older adults living in poverty. To provide seniors life sustaining services in a welcoming and supportive environment where they can get the help they need.

Income
$18.4 million
Spending
$17.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
149
Volunteers
594
Highest pay
$343,960, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

    15 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $10.4 million spent. NUTRITIONServing Seniors Senior Nutrition Program ensures almost 7,000 low-income seniors have access to a nutritious diet, providing over one million congregate and home-delivered meals a year. Meals are served from numerous congregate sites across San Diego County and delivered directly to homebound seniors each day.
  2. $3.7 million spent. HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICESServing Seniors team of health educators, social service case managers, and housing navigators provide an array of integrated health and social services that improve low-income seniors health and well-being.Case managers work one-on-one with clients to provide support for the complex, poverty-related issues that threaten their stability and well-being. For many clients without familial support, the case managers fill the role of a caring family member, providing a helping hand and a listening ear.
  3. $763,349 spent. HOUSINGServing Seniors provides robust senior housing programs that lift seniors out of homelessness and increase the stock of affordable senior housing in the region. The Transitional Housing Program helps homeless seniors get off the streets by providing transitional housing and supportive services as a direct stepping stone to permanentaffordable housing. Case managers help clients apply for entitlements, save and budget their money, access health and community services, provide life skills training, and make regular in-unit check-ins.Serving Seniors partnered with the City of San Diego to open Seniors Landing Bridge Shelter, a non congregate shelter that provides temporary housing to older adults transitioning out of homelessness and into permanent housing.Serving Seniors affiliate entities Senior Housing Corporation and City Heights Senior Housing Corporation own 529 units of affordable senior housing. Serving Seniors provides meals, social services and socialization opportunities to senior residents across these sites.

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 June 1973.

    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.