Big Island Substance Abuse Council
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS TO RECLAIM AND ENRICH THEIR LIVES BY UTILIZING INNOVATIVE RESOURCES AND HARNESSING THE STRENGTHS WITHIN EACH PERSON.
- Income
- $6.2 million
- Spending
- $6.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 70%
- Employees
- 103
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $176,906, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (4)
- $1.5 million spent. ALCHOHOL/DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT FOR ADULT: ADMITTED 399 ADULTS TO ALL FACILITIES FOR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT INCLUDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, SKILL BUILDING AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING.
- $1.4 million spent. ADOLESCENT PROGRAM: TO ASSIST CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT ADOLSCENTS IN DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE COPING SKILLS TO SUCCESSFULLY AMEND THEIR LIFE PATHWAYS TO PRODUCTIVITY. 56 YOUTHS ADMITTED TO OUTPATIENT PROGRAM RANGING FROM 30 TO 120 DAYS.
- $2.0 million spent. THERAPEUTIC LIVING PROGRAMS: 125 ADULTS ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF REDUCING THE RISK OF RELAPSE AND TO ASSIST THEM IN REINTEGRATING INTO THE COMMUNITY AS A FUNCTIONAL, CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF SOCIETY.
- $100,399 spent. OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 April 1972.
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.