Standing Together to End Sexual Assault
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA) empowers people through healing and social change to eliminate all forms of sexual violence. We are committed to transforming lives by providing services and education to meet the needs of our diverse community.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 24.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 73%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $147,057, executive dir.
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 86% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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 (3)
- $656,361 spent. Crisis Intervention: STESA provides clients with immediate information and support to reduce isolation and mitigate the onset of rape trauma syndrome. Program components include: A 24 hour hotline to offer crisis counseling, medical/legal information, advocacy, and accompaniment, and community referrals. In addition, STESA provides in-person counseling.
- $342,978 spent. Long Term Counseling: STESA offers individuals, couples, group, and family counseling services. In addition, trained counselors offer weekly support groups for adult and teen survivors of sexual assault and related long -term problems. The program is primarily designed to address the counseling needs for survivors in the latter stages of rape trauma syndrome, a form of PTSD.
- $126,788 spent. Community Education Program: STESA strives to promote greater public awareness and understanding of sexual assault through education and prevention programs by providing presentations on sexual violence awareness, prevention, self-defense and sexual harassment to community organizations and specialized training to law enforcement agencies, medical personnel, and other interested groups. STESA partners with school districts and other community-based organizations to conduct sexual violence prevention and education to youth.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1977.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.