Tikvah-Etta & Lazear Israel Center for the Developmentally Disabled
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE ETTA ISRAEL CENTER IS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WHICH ENABLE PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO LIVE FULLY ENRICHED AND ACTIVE LIVES AS MEMBERS OF THE LOS ANGELES JEWISH COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $15.5 million
- Spending
- $14.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 288
- Volunteers
- 408
- Highest pay
- $357,128, chief executive officer
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: 59 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 49% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 2512 of 12 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 (1)
- $12.3 million spent. ETTA PROVIDES SUPPORTED AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES (SLS AND ILS). BOTH SLS AND ILS OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN HOME OR APARTMENT, WHILE RECEIVING SUPPORT TO ATTAIN LIFE GOALS AND DREAMS, EXERCISE PERSONAL CHOICE, ACHIEVE COMPETENCE IN DAY-TO-DAY AREAS OF LIFE, AND PURSUE DIGNIFIED RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY. THESE SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS, FROM A FEW HOURS A WEEK TO EXTENSIVE CARE, AND, IF NEEDED, CAN BE MAINTAINED FOR A CLIENT'S ENTIRE LIFETIME. BOTH SLS AND ILS ARE VENDORED BY CALIFORNIA'S REGIONAL CENTERS. THE ORGANIZATION'S RESIDENTIAL SERVICES PROGRAM OPERATES FOUR FULL-TIME ADULT RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES (GROUP HOMES) FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MILD-TO-MODERATE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THESE HOMES ARE THE ONLY ONES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CUSTOMIZED FOR THE NEEDS OF THE JEWISH DISABLED. AS PART OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, NUMEROUS SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS OPPORTUNITIES ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE RESIDENTS.ETTA OPERATES COMMUNITY BASED ADULT DAY PROGRAMS (DAY PROGRAMS) IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND IN THE PICO ROBERTSON AREA OF LOS ANGELES, PROVIDING SAFE AND MEANINGFUL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. THESE INCLUDE ARTS AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ALSO EXTENSIVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY. TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE SITES IS AVAILABLE, AS ARE EXTENDED HOURS. THE DAY PROGRAMS ARE VENDORED BY CALIFORNIA'S REGIONAL CENTERS.ETTA OFFERS AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN PAID EMPLOYMENT AND EXPERIENCE THE DIGNITY, FRIENDSHIPS, INCOME, AND PURPOSE THAT JOBS CAN PROVIDE.PROGRAM SERVICES (BOTH THOSE LEADING TO EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS SUPPORTING ONGOING EMPLOYMENT) ARE VENDORED BY CALIFORNIA'S REGIONAL CENTERS.ETTA PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND SPECIALIZED SUPPORT SERVICES ON A CONCIERGE BASIS. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE STRONG OUTCOMES FOR THE ADULT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND EASE PARENTS' ROLE AS CASE MANAGER. THIS IS A PRIVATE PAY SERVICE.ETTA OFFERS YEAR ROUND SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES DESIGNED TO MEET THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. LED BY EXPERIENCED STAFF, INSTRUCTORS, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND RABBIS, CONNECTIONS PRIORITIZES HOLISTIC GROWTH AND SUPPORTS THE NATURAL EVOLUTION OF ADULT LIFE. AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS FORMATS TO ACCOMMODATE ALL ETTA CLIENTS, CONNECTIONS EXTENDS ITS OFFERINGS TO GROUP HOME RESIDENTS AND DAY PROGRAM AND SLS/ILS PARTICIPANTS. FROM CHALLAH BAKING TO YOGA SESSIONS, FROM LEARNING ABOUT PRAYER TO FRUIT PICKING FOR JEWISH HOLIDAYS, THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.ETTA OFFERS VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FOR CLIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING MEDIATED SOCIAL GROUPS AND PARENTING SUPPORT WORKSHOPS.ETTA USES ITS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE PROVIDING SERVICES TO ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES(IDD) TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO CORNERSTONE HOUSING FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, WHICH IS DEVELOPING THE BHATIA FAMILY VILLAGE, A 64-UNIT INCLUSIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY FOR ADULTS WITH IDD. ONCE DEVELOPMENT IS COMPLETED, ETTA WILL PROVIDE ALL GENERAL SERVICES, EXCEPT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, TO THE RESIDENTS.ETTA OFFERS COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE THE ORGANIZATION'S VISION OF AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIAL NEEDS, SUCCEEDING AND GROWING TOGETHER. ETTA HAS AN AUXILIARY SUPPORT GROUP, "FRIENDS OF ETTA ISRAEL" AS PART OF ITS IRANIAN?AMERICAN SERVICES BOARD. THE ORGANIZATION BENEFITS FROM MANY HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME PER YEAR.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.