Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Isla Vista Youth Project Inc

EIN 95-3007419 · Goleta, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Vision:We envision a community where children are loved, valued, and respected; and families are able to reach their highest potential.Core Beliefs:All children benefit when:- they have as many loving, responsive, safe (and consistent) adults as possible intheir lives, because children become resilient through relationships.- they have equal access to educational, social, and recreational opportunities.- they are in diverse economic, social, and cultural environments.- parents are engaged in their childs school and community, when they know howto navigate and advocate for their children, resulting in positive academicoutcomes.All families benefit when:- our teachers, family advocates and staff assume that caregivers want the best fortheir children- they develop social connections with multiple individuals, organizations and oneanother- they are supported to build relationships in diverse economic, social, and cultural environments in which they can feel safe, valued and wholeAll commun

Income
$7.8 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
85
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$197,803, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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 (2)
  1. $5.6 million spent. Children's Center: When children are cared for in a safe, stimulating and high-quality environment, they grow up to be lifelong learners and caregivers who can work or go to school in order to provide for their families. LEAPs three Childrens Center sites serve students with trauma-informed programs designed to facilitate cognitive, emotional, physical, social and creative growth to children in a language-rich environment that supports the ethnic and cultural diversity of the children. During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, all classrooms were full. We served 159 students.
  2. $434,399 spent. LEAP's Family Resource Center mitigates the effects of poverty, racism, and trauma by strengthening families. Families become resilient through relationships with community organizations and with one another. LEAP's Family Resource Center provides parent education classes, case management, monthly food distributions, an emergencypersonal care and food pantry on site, clothing distributions, home visitation, andenrollment services for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, WIC and other resources communityengagement events. FRC services continued in FY 2024-2025. This year, LEAPsdiaper bank provided more than 61,000 diapers to more than 2,200 children. LEAP's Family Resource Center mitigates the effects of poverty, racism, and trauma by strengthening families. Families become resilient through relationships with community organizations and with one another. LEAP's Family Resource Center provides parent education classes, case management, monthly food distributions, an emergencypersonal care and food pantry on site, clothing distributions, home visitation, andenrollment services for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, WIC and other resources communityengagement events. FRC services continued in FY 2024-2025. This year, LEAPsdiaper bank provided more than 61,000 diapers to more than 2,200 children. Inpartnership with Immigrant Hope, the FRC hosted bi-monthly immigration webinars,providing accurate information about the changing laws relating to immigrants. The FRC expanded their offerings to include webinars on financial literacy and tenants rights. LEAP supported more than 1,200 families with more than 12,000 services.Total program expenses were $434,399. Total program revenues were $0.

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 January 1983.

    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.