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Growing Place

EIN 95-3984983 · Santa Monica, 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

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
102
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$182,431, ex-officio (through 8/2024)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% 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 July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 July 31, 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. $7.4 million spent. THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR WAS ONE OF CHANGES FOR GROWING PLACE. JULIE BACZEWSKI WAS APPOINTED THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN AUGUST 2024 AS PAULINE MCPEAKE MOVED ON TO TAKE A POSITION ELSEWHERE. OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONDUCTED A NATIONWIDE SEARCH TO FIND A NEW PERMANENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DR. CRIS LOZON TOOK THAT POSITION IN JULY 2025. AMANDA HONDA, THE LAB SCHOOL CAMPUS DIRECTOR, RESIGNED AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND WAS REPLACED BY INTERIM CAMPUS DIRECTOR, LYNETTE BRAVO.THE YEAR WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THAT OF THE PALISADES FIRES WHICH ERUPTED IN JANUARY 2025. SEVERAL OF OUR FAMILIES AND EMPLOYEES WERE DISPLACED BY THIS NATURAL DISASTER, INCLUDING JULIE BACZEWSKI. THE FIRES LED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SAND IN ALL OUR SAND AREAS AT AN EXTRA EXPENSE.FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE INITIATED A PARENT N ME CLASS ON OUR OCEAN PARK CAMPUS. ALTHOUGH IT WAS A YEAR OF CHANGE, IT WAS ALSO A YEAR OF STEADINESS AS JULIE MAINTAINED THE STATUS QUO WHILE WAITING FOR THE NEW ED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.