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Council on Aging-Southern California Inc

EIN 95-2874089 · Irvine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (THE ORGANIZATION"), FORMERLY KNOWN AS COUNCIL ON AGING - ORANGE COUNTY, IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE INDEPENDENCE, HEALTH, DIGNITY OF OLDER ADULTS THROUGH COMPASSION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$8.0 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
109
Volunteers
682
Highest pay
$246,642, 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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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. $2.4 million spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & WELLNESS DEPARTMENT (BHWD):THE DEPARTMENT OFFERS COUNTY-WIDE PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION TO OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH BARRIERS LATER IN LIFE. THE GOAL OF THE DEPARTMENT IS TO IMPROVE THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH AND OVERALL WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS IN ORANGE COUNTY. THE BHWD IS COMPRISED OF THREE PROGRAMS: RECONNECT, FRIENDLY VISITOR, AND THE PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVE, REWARDING LIVES (PEARLS OC).RECONNECT: THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY AND REDUCE MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS AND RISKS IN ISOLATED AND OLDER ADULTS IN ORANGE COUNTY. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE SOCIAL FUNCTIONING BY RECONNECTING CLIENTS WITH MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES THAT REINFORCE HEALTHY LIFE PATTERNS AND GOOD MENTAL HEALTH.FRIENDLY VISITOR PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FRAIL, ISOLATED, OLDER ADULTS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE NO FAMILY MEMBERS OR SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH HEALTHY COMPANIONSHIPS, SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND NURTURING RELATIONS TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH.PEARLS OC: THIS PROGRAM EDUCATES OLDER ADULTS ABOUT DEPRESSION AND HELPS THEM DEVELOP THE SKILLS THEY NEED FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND HOW TO LEAD MORE ACTIVE LIVES THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF PEARLS COACHES. THIS SHORT-TERM, EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM IS TAILORED TO SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION, ISOLATION, AND OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES.ENHANCED CARE MANAGEMENT (ECM): THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR MEDI-CAL MEMBERS WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL OR SOCIAL NEEDS, AIMING TO HELP OLDER ADULTS STAY HEALTHY BY COORDINATING ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR CARE, FROM PRIMARY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TO SPECIALIST AND LONG-TERM SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF DEDICATED CARE MANAGERS.
  2. $2.1 million spent. ADVOCATES FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS (LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN SERVICE):THE STATE-CERTIFIED LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMEN PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF APPROXIMATELY 29,000 OLDER AND DISABLED ADULTS IN ORANGE COUNTY AND 15,000 IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY WHO RESIDE IN SKILLED NURSING AND RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES. THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMEN INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT OF LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS AND MAKE UNANNOUNCED VISITS TO 1,600 FACILITIES ACROSS BOTH COUNTIES. CERTIFIED OMBUDSMEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A 36-HOUR CERTIFICATION TRAINING AND LOG AT LEAST 10 HOURS OF MENTORED FIELD TRAINING. TO MAINTAIN THEIR CERTIFICATION, OMBUDSMEN RECEIVE 2-4 HOURS PER MONTH OF CONTINUING EDUCATION RELEVANT TO OMBUDSMAN WORK.
  3. $1.8 million spent. HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM (HICAP): COUNSELORS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS TO EXISTING AND NEWLY ELIGIBLE MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ABOUT MEDICARE AND RELATED INSURANCE COVERAGE TO HELP MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES MAXIMIZE THEIR BENEFITS AND MINIMIZE COSTS IN ORANGE, RIVERSIDE, SAN BERNARDINO, INYO, AND MONO COUNTIES. COUNSELING IS AVAILABLE BY TELEPHONE OR IN PERSON AT MORE THAN 60 SITES THROUGHOUT THE FIVE COUNTIES. ALL HICAP COUNSELORS MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AT LEAST 24 HOURS OF TRAINING, 10 HOURS OF INTERNSHIP, AND PASS A 100 QUESTION EXAM TO ACHIEVE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING STATE REGISTRATION. AFTERWARDS, COUNSELORS MUST MEET ANNUAL COUNSELING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (AT LEAST 55 HOURS) TO MAINTAIN THEIR REGISTRATION.
  4. $698,418 spent. SENIOR PROTECTION PROGRAM (SPP) AND FINANCIAL ABUSE SPECIALIST TEAM (FAST): THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS OF FINANCIAL ELDER ABUSE ISSUES ON A NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEVEL WHILE PROVIDING REFERRALS TO APPROPRIATE AGENCIES FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF FINANCIAL ABUSE CASES. SPP IS ALSO PART OF THE FAST WHICH IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT ASSISTS ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, THE OMBUDSMEN, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ATTORNEYS IN RESOLVING COMPLICATED MATTERS OF ABUSE.SMILEMAKERS PROGRAM: THE PROGRAM IS VOLUNTEER SERVICE GROUP THAT COORDINATES, SOLICITS, AND DISTRIBUTES DONATED PERSONAL HOLIDAY GIFTS TO INDIVIDUALS IN LICENSED CARE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT ORANGE AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES.ANSWERS GUIDE: THE COUNCIL PUBLISHES AND DISTRIBUTES AN ONLINE 128-PAGE ANSWERS GUIDE WHICH INCLUDES INFORMATION ON HEALTH CARE, CAREGIVING, HOUSING, FINANCE, LEGAL, INSURANCE, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AS WELL AS HELPFUL CHECKLISTS. IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ANSWERS GUIDE ASSISTS IN CONNECTING SENIORS AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM WITH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES."AGING MY WAY - MY LIFE, MY PLAN" IS AIMED AT EMPOWERING OLDER ADULTS TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR AGING EXPERIENCE. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND OUR GUIDEBOOK, WE ENCOURAGE OLDER ADULTS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SHAPING THEIR FUTURE, TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE AS THEY AGE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1974.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.