Community Research Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CRF, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CLIENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS, DESIGNS, DELIVERS AND EVALUATES INNOVATIVE AND EXEMPLARY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN A MANNER THAT IS BOTH CULTURALLY AND TRAUMA COMPETENT, PROVIDING THESE SERVICES WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND A STRONG FOCUS ON WELLNESS AND RECOVERY. WE ALSO INSPIRE AND MENTOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS.
- Income
- $116.2 million
- Spending
- $106.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 96%
- Employees
- 1,374
- Volunteers
- 145
- Highest pay
- $311,853, 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: 60 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 61% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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.
Independent board
25 of 254 of 7 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 (4)
- $26.8 million spent. OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:CRFS OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE INTEGRATED, COORDINATED COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR ADULTS 18 AND OLDER WHO HAVE SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE DISORDERS AND TO SERIOUSLY EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED (SED) CHILDREN, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES.SERVICES TO THE ADULT POPULATION ARE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION, WITH EMPHASIS ON ATTENDING TO THE WHOLE PERSON AND RE-ESTABLISHING ONES LIFE AS A RESULT OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF MENTAL ILLNESS, RATHER THAN SIMPLY ATTENDING TO THE SYMPTOMS OF THE ILLNESS. THE SERVICES FOCUS ON RECOVERY, REHABILITATION, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION, AND ARE INDIVIDUALIZED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH CLIENT. CLIENTS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SETTING SERVICE PLAN GOALS AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVOLVE FAMILY AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS IN THE RECOVERY PLAN. SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES UTILIZE THE FAMILY SYSTEMS AND WRAPAROUND APPROACH IN PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE, STRENGTH-BASED AND CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SERVICES ARE CLIENT AND FAMILY-CENTERED AND FOCUS ON ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENT AND FAMILY WHILE RESPECTING AND WORKING WITHIN THEIR CULTURAL BELIEFS, SUPPORTS, AND NORMS. THE CHILDRENS SYSTEM OF CARE (CSOC) PRINCIPLES ARE UTILIZED WHICH EMPHASIZE A STRENGTH-BASED COLLABORATION AMONG FAMILY, THERAPIST, CASE MANAGER, SOCIAL SERVICES, SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE ASSESSMENT, PLANNING AND DELIVERY OF ALL SERVICES.
- $25.5 million spent. INTENSIVE MOBILE ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT (ACT PROGRAMS):ACT PROGRAMS PROVIDE INTENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND HOUSING SERVICES FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE THOUSAND AND ONE HUNDRED AND TEN PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS ADULTS WITH SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS AND CO-OCCURING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THE PROGRAMS UTILIZE THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE OF ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT (ACT) AS WELL AS THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS A HIGHER LEVEL OF COMMUNITY CARE AND TO ASSIST THEM IN REACHING THEIR LIFE GOALS, THAT IS NOT DOMINATED BY MENTAL ILLNESS OR SUBSTANCE USE, IN PART BY PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HOUSING,. VIRTUALLY, EVERY CLIENT PARTICIPANT HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE HOUSING WITH CRF ASSISTANCE. ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO ELIGIBLE CLIENTS TO ENSURE CLIENTS BENEFITS ARE UTILIZED TO MEET THEIR PRIMARY NEEDS AND CONSERVED FUNDS ARE SAFEGUARDED.
- $23.6 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:CRF OPERATES A VARIETY OF OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (PERT). THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES EMERGENCY PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. PERT CLINICIANS RIDE ALONG WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION, EMERGENCY AND LIMITED FOLLOW-UP SERVICES TO PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO BE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS RELATED TO A MENTAL DISORDER. PERT TEAM MEMBERS, ALONG WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, WORK ONSITE TO DE-ESCALATE AND STABILIZE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OR LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS RELATED TO BEHAVIORAL OR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. THE PERT PROGRAM STAFF ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROVIDED ASSISTS LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOW TO MORE EFFECTIVELY INTERVENE WITH INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL DISORDERS.IN ADDITION, CRF OPERATES SIX CALWORKS STEP FORWARD PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE CALWORKS WELFARE-TO-WORK PROGRAM. WE SERVE THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND POVERTY AND GUIDE THEM TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY AS THEY TRANSITION FROM THE WELFARE SYSTEM TO GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. CRF ALSO OPERATES A TRANSITIONAL RESIDENTIAL FULL-SERVICE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE, PSYCHO-SOCIAL REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY FOR VOLUNTARY ADULTS WITH CHRONIC AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS AND DUAL DIAGNOSIS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A SCHEDULE OF DAILY CLASSES TO PROMOTE RECOVERY AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC CONSERVATOR'S OFFICE, INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, MEDICATION SUPPORT, PSYCHIATRY, VOCATIONAL SERVICES, AND PEER SUPPORT. CLIENTS ARE WELCOMED INTO A WARM, HOMELIKE ATMOSPHERE WHERE EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATING FACTORS AND GOALS TOWARD RECOVERY. CRF ALSO OPERATES TWO INTENSIVE MOBILE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TEAM IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MILD TO MODERATE INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENT DISABILITY AND A CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS AS WELL AS A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AND INTENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND REHABILITATION CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS WITH A BEHAVIORAL AND RECOVERY FOCUS. THE OVERALL GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO PROVIDE CRISIS STABILIZATION AS WELL AS INCREASE CLINICAL AND FUNCTIONAL STABILITY SO THAT INDIVIDUALS SERVED CAN MAINTAIN OR RETURN TO HIS/HER COMMUNITY PLACEMENT. LASTLY, CRF OPERATES A PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH HOMES INITIATIVE. THIS PROGRAM SERVES INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC UNMANAGED HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE OUTREACH, COMPREHENSIVE CARE MANAGEMENT, CARE COORDINATION (PHYSICAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH), HEALTH PROMOTION, COMPREHENSIVE TRANSITIONAL CARE, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT, AND REFERRALS TO HOUSING, COMMUNITY, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
- $17.1 million spent. SHORT-TERM ACUTE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT (START): THE START PROGRAMS (ALSO REFERRED TO AS CRISIS RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS) OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO HOSPITALIZATION FOR THE PERSON WHO IS SUFFERING A PSYCHIATRIC CRISIS OF SUCH MAGNITUDE TO NOT TO BE MANAGEABLE ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE COMMUNITY-BASED, HOMELIKE ENVIRONMENTS WHICH SPECIALIZE IN PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO COMES THROUGH THE DOOR. THEY RANGE IN SIZE FROM ELEVEN TO SIXTEEN BEDS AND ARE STAFFED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY BY MASTERS-PREPARED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THE PROGRAMS SEEK TO ENSURE THAT EACH RESIDENT IS CONNECTED TO A VARIETY OF SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, TO AID THE TRANSITION INTO SUCCESSFUL LIVING BEYOND THE START PROGRAMS. DURING THIS TAX YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 27,000 CRISIS RESIDENTIAL DAYS WERE PROVIDED.
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 1996.
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.
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