Better Life Children Services

Tax-deductible

Sacramento, CA501(c)(3)UnclassifiedEIN 68-0247352Revenue $1.9M in FY2024

On file with the IRSbetter-life.org1750 Howe Ave Ste 280, 95825-3368 · Sacramento, CATax-exempt since Aug 1996Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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To enrich the lives of children, youth, and families by providing quality, culturally sensitive, adoption and foster care services that promote safety, well-being, permanency.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
89¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 15 volunteers and 17 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $68K a year · 4% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
89%
of spending
Looks good: 89% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$95K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.2 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$549K
65% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 65% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.9M
-0.05% vs prior year
Spent
$1.9M
To programs
89%
Net assets
$293K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.9M
FY2024-0.05%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$1.9M
Expenses
$1.9M
FY2024▲ +13%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$1.9M
Net assets
$293K
FY2024▲ +1%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$161K
FY2021$257K
FY2022$62K
FY2023$290K
FY2024$293K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Aug 1996.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 89% · $1.7M Management & general 11% · $205K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

6 people listed on the 990; $95K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Direc
$94,944Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Winifred McNeil$94,944$65,621$77,243$72,374$43,302

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Better Life Children Services executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides adoption and foster care services to promote children's safety and well-being.

Questions for Better Life Children Services

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.7M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Recruiting, training, and approving resource parents; providing temporary placements and care to high-risk foster children; providing case management services to foster children in placement.

$1.1Mprogram expense
02

Intensive Services Foster Care

Program servcies for foster children/youth who require intensive treatment and behavioral support.

$317Kprogram expense
03

Cultural Broker services to reduce the entry of children in foster care and increase reunification

$305Kprogram expense

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9K
Other incomeLn 4–11$659
Money outPt IX
$1.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.7M
Managementcol C$205K
Owns and owesPt X
$293K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$185K
Total assetsLn 16$842K
LiabilitiesLn 26$549K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.9M
Other incomeLn 4–11$659
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$1.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$185K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$185K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1K
Other assetsLn 15$473K
Total assetsLn 16$842K
LiabilitiesLn 26$549K
Net assetsLn 32$293K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 517
VolunteersI 615
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$136K$185K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K$1K
Total assetsLn 16$453K$842K
LiabilitiesLn 26$163K$549K
Net assetsLn 32$290K$293K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$95K$15K$80K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$631K$630K$2K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$14K$13K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$59K$52K$7K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$20K$20K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$19K$19K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$270$270
Office expensesLn 13$0
Information technologyLn 14$22K$13K$8K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$36K$28K$8K
TravelLn 17$19K$19K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$4K$4K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K
InsuranceLn 23$22K$20K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$938K$871K$66K
All other expensesLn 24e$46K$42K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.9M$1.7M$205K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $1.9M$1.9M$3K$293K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.9M$1.7M$228K$290K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.3M$1.4M−$129K$62K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.5M$1.4M$96K$257K 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.4M$1.2M$141K$161K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,931,259 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,983$8,968
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,927,293$1,921,632
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$659
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,932,276$1,931,259
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $653,519$799,383
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,050,672$1,128,808
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,704,191$1,928,191
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $228,085$3,068
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,931,259 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$8,968
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$8,968
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,921,632$1,921,632
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $659$659
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,922,291$1,931,259
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,928,191 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $14,958 · Management $79,986$94,944
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $629,670 · Management $1,665$631,335
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $12,774 · Management $1,481$14,255
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $51,782 · Management $7,067$58,849
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $20,000$20,000
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $19,403$19,403
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $270$270
IX-13 Office expenses$0
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $13,461 · Management $8,237$21,698
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $28,088 · Management $8,010$36,098
IX-17 TravelPrograms $19,191$19,191
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 InterestManagement $4,139$4,139
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$2,056
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $20,483 · Management $1,687$22,170
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $871,324 · Management $66,240$937,564
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $41,759 · Management $6,516$46,219
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,723,163 · Management $205,028 · Fundraising $0$1,928,191
Part X · Balance sheet $842,017 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $136,406$185,000
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $243,398$175,007
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,649$7,473
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,258$1,199
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $62,497$473,338
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $453,208$842,017
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $93,434$75,111
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $69,729$473,793
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $163,163$548,904
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $281,579$282,519
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $8,466$10,594
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $290,045$293,113
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $453,208$842,017
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $293,113 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,931,259
XI-2 Total expenses$1,928,191
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,068
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$290,045
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$293,113

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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