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Upward Bound House

EIN 95-4288926 · Santa Monica, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE HOMELESSNESS AMONG FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING HOUSING, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND ADVOCACY. OUR CENTRAL GOAL IS TO EMPOWER EVERY HOMELESS FAMILY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND AND BARRIERS, TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND LEAD PRODUCTIVE, FULFILLING LIVES. WE SEEK TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, WITH A FOCUS ON PROMOTING THE OBJECTIVES OF FAMILY STRENGTHENING, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND PERMANENT HOUSING.

Income
$9.7 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
65
Volunteers
95
Highest pay
$261,046, ceo & president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $5.4 million spent. PERMANENT HOUSING - SOUTH LOS ANGELES HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM - THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF EMERGENCY SHELTER (4 FACILITIES IN SOUTH LA) AND RAPID REHOUSING (RRH) SERVICES FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES ITS RRH SERVICES FROM OFFICES LOCATED WITHIN THE COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF COMPTON. THE 4 EMERGENCY SHELTERS OFFER 24-HOUR CRISIS HOUSING, AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES, FOR UP TO 4 TO 5 MONTHS PER FAMILY. RRH MOVES HOMELESS FAMILIES FROM SHELTERS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BY PROVIDING PROACTIVE LANDLORD OUTREACH AND HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE, COUPLED WITH INDIVIDUALIZED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (E.G. SECURITY DEPOSITS, SHORT-TERM RENT SUBSIDIES). ONCE IN HOUSING, FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN TIME-LIMITED, INTENSIVE, IN-HOME SERVICES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS PARENT, CHILD AND FAMILY BARRIERS TO HOUSING AND SCHOOL STABILITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. THE ORGANIZATION CLOSELY COLLABORATES WITH THE SPA 6 FAMILY SOLUTIONS CENTER OPERATED BY SSG/HOPICS TO ACCEPT REFERRALS AND COORDINATE SERVICES.
  2. $3.5 million spent. INTERIM HOUSING - IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 450 FAMILIES (516 ADULTS AND 855 CHILDREN). OF THE 240 FAMILIES WHO EXITED THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS, 83% MOVED TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND 30% INCREASED THEIR INCOME THROUGH EMPLOYMENT. WESTSIDE HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM - THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF FAMILY PLACE (SANTA MONICA), A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITY (21 ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS) OFFERING PSYCHOSOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO HOMELESS FAMILIES FOR UP TO 9 MONTHS, AND FAMILY SHELTER (CULVER CITY), AN EMERGENCY SHELTER (18-STUDIO UNITS) OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO FAMILIES FOR UP TO 4 OR 5 MONTHS.
  3. $26,691 spent. HEALTH & WELLNESS - WELLNESS AND FARM PROGRAM - THE FARM PROGRAM, LOCATED IN SANTA MONICA, PROVIDES AND ENVIRONMENT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO LEARN HOW TO GROW AND PREPARE THEIR OWN FOOD THROUGH FUN, INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS AND HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING FOOD SECURITY AND PROMOTING HEALTHY EATING HABITS. HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM - THE PROGRAM USES AN URBAN FARM (OWNED BY THE ORGANIZATION) AS A THERAPEUTIC OUTLET TO TEACH LIFE SKILLS, PROVIDE JOB TRAINING, AND BUILD CLIENT CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. PARENT AND THEIR CHILD(REN), DEPENDING ON AGE, PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION, PLANTING, CARE AND CULTIVATION OF CROPS AS WELL AS CLASSES IN NUTRITION, COOKING AND HEALTHY LIVING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 July 1995.

    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.