Home Start Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To assure the safety and resiliency of children by strengthening families and their communities.
- Income
- $12.5 million
- Spending
- $11.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 74%
- Employees
- 256
- Volunteers
- 377
- Highest pay
- $189,779, ex-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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
- $4.2 million spent. Supportive Housing:Supportive Housing Services follows the housing first model by quickly moving youth and others experiencing homelessness into permanent housing and then providing wrap around supportive services to help them remain stably housed. Our services include Street-Based Outreach, Prevention, Diversion, Systems and Housing Navigation, Rapid Re-Housing, Transitional Housing, and Permanent Supportive Housing. Home Start also targets services to specialized populations including families, transition age youth, transition age pregnant or parenting youth, and survivors of domestic violence.
- $3.3 million spent. Child Abuse Prevention:Child Abuse Prevention Services partner with parents to promote child safety and family well-being to keep children with their families. Our programs provide support to families who are currently involved with Child Welfare Services (CWS) to help parents create stable and nurturing home environments, ensure children at risk of removal remain safely in their homes, and ensure timely reunification of children who have been placed out of the home. Home Start uses evidence-based models to strengthen parenting skills, ensure stable and safe homes, and increase the health of children and their families. Our services include In-Home Parenting Education, Group Parenting Classes, Personalized Visitation Coaching, Family Support Clinician Services, Victim Services Case Management, and Parenting Partners for peer support.
- $784,094 spent. Therapeutic Services:Behavioral Health Services provides free individual therapy services to children who are the victims of trauma or abuse. Services are provided in the childs home or school as well as at Home Start locations. Home Start therapists are trained in providing Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Play Therapy. Therapists also have the ability to provide family therapy and individual therapy to adult clients on a sliding fee scale. Our services also include therapist facilitated Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) support groups and support groups for parents whose children have been the victims of abuse.
- $590,462 spent. Family Strengthening:Family Strengthening Services includes the First Steps program which provides home visiting services for pregnant women and families with children ages 0-3. First Steps promotes positive parenting and enhances child health and development for families who may face hardships and stressors that place them at increased risk for poor health and developmental outcomes. Our services are offered over the long term to prepare children to enter school as active learners, and ensure that all children are healthy, loved, and nurtured. Home Starts Communities in Action Program helps families move toward safety, empowerment, and connection by providing tools and increasing options for self-determination, financial independence, and healthy choices. Services include stabilization support, public benefits application assistance, workforce development, financial literacy, resident leadership academies, access to free tax assistance, education and cognitive development workshops, and healthy relationships workshops.
- $400,790 spent. Social Enterprise:Social Enterprise initiatives include our Thrift Boutique and Bright Futures Candles. The Home Start Thrift Boutique was our first social enterprise made possible by a generous estate gift from Meg Jacobs. It provides thrift store prices in a boutique environment as well as on the job training and employment to Home Start clients. The Bright Futures Candles social enterprise offers entrepreneurial learning opportunities, skill building, and the ability to work non-traditional hours for our clients who may have current barriers to working full time jobs. Through these social enterprises Home Start clients are able to develop the skills and confidence they need to pursue their unique career goals.
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 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 June 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 August 1977.
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.