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Passes our checks

Venice 2000

EIN 95-4759013 · Venice, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceWeak38 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

The mission of HELPER Foundation is to provide the resources and guidance to help struggling youth and community members of all ages to make the transition from negative anti-social behavior to positive value-oriented alternatives.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
20
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$204,679, executive director

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 82% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
  1. $716,132 spent. Gang Intervention & Preention : We provide gang reention and intervention services to the Venice and Mar Vista communities under our contracts with the LA Gang Reduction and Youth Development and the Urban Peace Institute. Our staff of 6 intervention workers 4 case managers and two peace ambassadors work with families and participants; assisting them in enhancing their lives through the provision of direct services and or access to resources through various collaborative partnership networks. As the Lead Agency we managed 35 intervention and 25 prevention clients consistently giving us a total of 60 clients erved in 6 to 12 months venice 2000 successfully assisted 300 clients through our intervention programming. We helped cllients transition off of probation ad we graduated clients from our prevention program. We also provided life skills workshops to over 200 clients and family members.
  2. $703,266 spent. Our crew of safe passage workers ensure a safe environment around three highshools and three middle schools in the Antelope Valley Unified School District to make sure that students can safely enter the school at the start of classes and exit from school at the enbd of the day. We have have pop up events at nearby parks when school is out to provide students with opportunities for positive interaction with their peers.
  3. $297,119 spent. Antelope Valley Trauma Prevention Initiative: Our community intervention workers interface with the community in Lancaster and Palmdale areas to educate them about the causes and effects of gang iolence ad the alternatives that can help affected youth and their families become productive members of the community. We are committed to supporting and assisting the highest-need groups victims and survivors of gang violence and their families ad at-high-risk individuals. Our organization understands the proven the importance of reducing crime and gun violence and we are proud to be part of this initiative. We have a Trauma Prevention Initive with the Office of violence prevention. Our work includes but is not limited to mental healt support employment services substance abuse prevention and yuth engagement programs. We provided the following services and activities: 1. Outreach efforts to identify high risk individuals and connect them to the appropriate resources 2. Support and assistace to surivors of gun violence and their families 3. Participation in collaborative efforts with other community organizations to ensure that we are working towards the sae goal and 4. Training and eduction to individuals and groups on the dangers of gun violence and the importance of prevention and intervention.
  4. $551,588 spent. 1.Antelope Valley Youth Center 2. Wrap Around services to clients who are referred by another agency for gang-influenced behavior

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 October 13, 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 February 2000.

    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 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.