Crystal Stairs Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IMPROVING THE LIVES OF FAMILIES THROUGH CHILD CARE SERVICES, RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY
- Income
- $375.9 million
- Spending
- $375.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 86%
- Employees
- 612
- Volunteers
- 1,372
- Highest pay
- $453,070, 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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 86% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% 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. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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)
- $262.2 million spent. CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - UNDER CONTRACTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (CDSS) CHILDCARE AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, WE ADMINISTER A CHILD CARE PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHO ARE CYCLING OFF WELFARE (CALWORKS) AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE WELFARE SYSTEM. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT FAMILY ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY PAYING FOR CHILD CARE SO THAT PARENTS CAN WORK, SEEK WORK OR ATTEND SCHOOL/TRAINING. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES CHILD CARE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES REFERRED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN ARE "AT RISK" OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. WE CERTIFY THE FAMILY'S ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILD CARE, ASSIST THEM TO LOOK FOR AND SELECT CHILD CARE, PROVIDE REFERRALS TO OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AS NEEDED, AND MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THEY SELECT TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE ENROLLED 13,368 FAMILIES WITH A TOTAL OF 22,950 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 12 YEARS OLD, AND MADE MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO 7,667 LICENSED AND LICENSE-EXEMPT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR THEIR SERVICES TO ENROLLED CHILDREN.
- $67.8 million spent. CALWORKS STAGE 1 CHILD CARE - UNDER A CONTRACT WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPT. OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES (DPSS), WE ADMINISTER A CHILD CARE PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR CASH-AIDED FAMILIES STARTING THE TRANSITION FROM WELFARE TO WORK. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE A FAMILY'S ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT AND/OR EDUCATION/TRAINING THAT WILL LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT. WE CERTIFY THE FAMILY'S ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILD CARE, ASSIST THEM TO LOOK FOR AND SELECT CHILD CARE, AND MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THEY SELECT TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE ENROLLED 6,379 FAMILIES WITH A TOTAL OF 10,753 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 12 YEARS OLD, AND MADE MONTHLY CHILD CARE PAYMENTS TO 4,790 LICENSED AND LICENSE-EXEMPT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS FOR THEIR SERVICES TO ENROLLED CHILDREN.
- $27.2 million spent. HEAD START AND STATE PRESCHOOL: UNDER THREE GRANTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE ADMINISTER HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START AND CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP GRANTS FUNDED FOR 1,258 CHILDREN AGES 1 TO 5 YEARS OLD. ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM WAS UNDER ENROLLED EVERY MONTH IT ACCUMULATIVELY SERVICED 1,586 CHILDREN AND 1,487 FAMILIES THIS PAST YEAR. THERE WERE 1,372 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATING IN CLASS AND AT HOME LEARNING. OF THOSE CHILDREN ENROLLED, 240 WERE STUDENTS THAT WERE DUALLY SERVICED IN OUR CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S STATE PRESCHOOL AND HEAD START PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE FULL-DAY SERVICES AND 398 CHILDREN WHERE SERVICED THROUGH OUR CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIPS WHO PROVIDED FULL DAY SERVICES TO WORKING PARENTS AND THOSE WHO ARE IN SCHOOL AND NEEDED EXTENDED HOURS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED FULL-DAY SERVICES AT OUR 16 CENTERS FOR 195 DAYS FOR 849 CHILDREN. OF THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ENROLLED, 39% HAD ELIGIBILITY AT 100% BELOW FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES; 47% WERE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (TANIF OR SSI); 5% WERE IN FOSTER CARE; 5% WERE REPORTED AS BEING HOMELESS; AND 4% WERE OVER INCOME. IN ADDITION, 10% OF THOSE CHILDREN HAD AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) OR INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SERVICES PLAN RECEIVING DISABILITY SERVICES. THE GOAL OF OUR PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS BY ENHANCING THE SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN AND TO SUPPORT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT THAT LEADS TO PARENTS TAKING ON OR MAINTAINING THEIR ROLE AS THE CHILD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHER. WE TAKE A "HOLISTIC" APPROACH TO SERVING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT ALLOW US TO SUPPORT THEM IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH OUR STAFF DIRECTLY OR THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PARTNER. WE HAVE A SHARED GOVERNANCE APPROACH WHERE PARENTS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING.
- $7.5 million spent. CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRALQSLACOMMUNITY VOICESCHILD CARE BRIDGE
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 October 1980.
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.