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Vietnam Veterans of San Diego

EIN 95-3649525 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak26 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VIETNAM VETERANS OF SAN DIEGO IS DEDICATED TO EXTENDING ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY AND HOMELESS VETERANS OF ALL WARS AND ERAS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING HOUSING, FOOD, CLOTHING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES.WE BELIEVE IN THE INHERENT WORTH OF EACH AND EVERY VETERAN AND HIS OR HER RIGHT TO A REHABILITATION PROGRAM WHICH LEADS TO RENEWED SELF-WORTH AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. VIETNAM VETERANS OF SAN DIEGO, AS AN ORGANIZATION, SHALL ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH APPROPRIATE RELATED GOALS.

Income
$21.6 million
Spending
$23.8 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-15.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
263
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$212,232, president & 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: 26 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 81% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 23% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $20.5 million spent. Vietnam Veterans of San Diego dba Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) is a non-profit corporation founded in 1981. VVSD supports 3,100 of Americas veterans each year, helping them to overcome homelessness and related challenges. As the only licensed residential drug treatment program for homeless veterans in San Diego County, VVSD provides a Comprehensive Continuum of Care (Prevention, Intervention, Treatment & Aftercare) to veterans and their families. Our mission extends assistance to Veterans and their families beyond the basic food, clothing, and shelter.Emergency and transitional housing are coupled with personalized case management services for substance use recovery, mental health counseling, job training/job search assistance, legal services, and much more. This integrated approach addresses their fundamental needs, but also provides an opportunity to introduce alternative healing activities, which are found to be equally beneficial in the recovery process.VVSD is the founder of both Stand Down and Homeless Court, which began in 1987 and 1990, respectively. Both programs address a broad spectrum of services, and help to remove barriers for securing housing, employment, and social services. Stand Down is the point of entry for many of these brave men and women. Today, more than 300 Stand Downs have been replicated across our nation, and many major cities have established their own Homeless Court.VVSD operates the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, which provides confidential, high-quality mental health services at low-to-no-cost to post-9/11 veterans (including National Guard and Reserves), their families, and the families of active duty service members, including spouse or partner, children, parents, siblings, caregivers, and others. VVSD Escondido, LLC is a single member LLC owned by VVSD. VVSD Escondido, LLC operates a permanent supportive housing project in Escondido, California consisting of 54 units known as Veterans Villas.

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 November 6, 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 December 1981.

    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 November 4, 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.