Help children & adults with physical & developmental disabilities realize their full potential throughout their lives.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.2M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · 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
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.5M a year · 8% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
18
named funders · $414K
Looks good: 18 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.1M
3% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 3% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$28.6M
Spent
$14.9M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$99.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$28.6M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$28.6M
FY2021$16.9M
FY2022$13.7M
FY2023$18.6M
FY2024$17.0M
Expenses
$14.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$14.9M
FY2021$15.1M
FY2022$18.2M
FY2023$19.3M
FY2024$20.0M
Net assets
$99.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$99.0M
FY2021$109.3M
FY2022$89.2M
FY2023$96.3M
FY2024$99.1M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Dec 2002.

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

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $11.3M Management & general 20% · $3.0M Fundraising 4% · $571K

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

29 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Executive Officer
$298,424Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$179,874Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$131,518Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Director of Communications & PR
$114,469Pt VII · Sec A
Program Director
$107,984Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Director of Business Services
$107,965Pt VII · Sec A
SR Director of Human Resources
$102,231Pt VII · Sec A
SR Director of Programs
$101,561Pt VII · Sec A

Keri Castaneda’s $237K as Chief Operating Officer is at the 59th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Lori Gangemi—$330,998$344,208$335,863$298,424
Keri Castaneda$237,429$228,405$221,062$210,719$179,874
Kashif Khan$234,783$227,745$222,390$204,470$100,762
Courtney Jurado$195,696$110,675———
Julie Tugend$178,181————
Laura Beck$173,136$113,734——$102,231
Sergio Rizzo-Fontanesi$167,360————
Lauren Rayner——$149,450$115,686—

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.

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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

Empowers individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential.

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Your first name shows with your question. Abilityfirst answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $11.3M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Community Programs

Abilityfirst's supported employment program provided close to 325 adults with disabilities with vocational and skill assessment, job placement and on-the-job support in competitive job markets in their communities in a wide range of industries.

$5.7Mprogram expense
02

Community Centers

Abilityfirst operates five community centers and one school-based site in los angeles county, serving approximately 1092 children and adults. Our person-centered programs empower individuals to discover what is important to them in their lives, and to develop the skills that are important for them to achieve their goals.

$4.6Mprogram expense
03

Camp paivikacamp paivika is located in the san bernardino mountains and offers summer camp program. In 2020, the summer camp season had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. In its place, camp paivika offered a free virtual camp for 245 children and adults.

$1.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 18 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$28.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$4.2M
Money outPt IX
$14.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$11.3M
Managementcol C$3.0M
Fundraisingcol D$571K
Owns and owesPt X
$99.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.4M
Total assetsLn 16$102.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
29
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$9.1M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$780K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$4.2M
Other incomeLn 4–11$131K
Gains on assetsLn 7$2.7M
Total revenueLn 12$28.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$8.3M
SavingsLn 2$111K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$8.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$64.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$21.4M
Other assetsLn 15$5.7M
Total assetsLn 16$102.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M
Net assetsLn 32$99.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5339
VolunteersI 6203
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.7M$8.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$56.9M$64.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12.6M$21.4M
Total assetsLn 16$80.2M$102.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M$3.1M
Net assetsLn 32$78.8M$99.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$735K$571K$133K$31K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$8.3M$6.5M$1.5M$352K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$64K$47K$16K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.5M$1.1M$366K$27K
Payroll taxesLn 10$649K$511K$110K$28K
Legal feesLn 11b$47K$47K
Accounting feesLn 11c$53K$53K
Investment management feesLn 11f$52K$52K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$180K$48K$128K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$18K$3K$7K$8K
Office expensesLn 13$455K$302K$96K$57K
Information technologyLn 14$98K$17K$65K$16K
OccupancyLn 16$938K$732K$206K$537
TravelLn 17$221K$174K$47K$159
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$8K$4K$4K$489
InterestLn 20$9K$2K$3K$4K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$712K$642K$70K
InsuranceLn 23$314K$245K$69K$180
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$440K$372K$63K$5K
All other expensesLn 24e$157K$121K$37K
Total functional expensesLn 25$14.9M$11.3M$3.0M$571K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $17.0M$20.0M−$3.1M$99.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $18.6M$19.3M−$703K$96.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $13.7M$18.2M−$4.6M$89.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $16.9M$15.1M$1.9M$109.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $28.6M$14.9M$13.7M$99.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $28,642,765 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,867,411$15,712,742
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $10,824,918$8,578,826
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,481,953$4,220,104
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $253,890$131,093
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $17,428,172$28,642,765
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $12,568,959$11,206,885
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,606,733$3,701,471
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $17,175,692$14,908,356
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $252,480$13,734,409
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
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 $28,642,765 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $4,153 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$779,613
VIII-1e Government grants$1,810,743
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$13,122,386
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$9,123,480
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$15,712,742
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $8,578,826$8,578,826
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,486,580$1,486,580
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossUnrelated business $115,314$115,314
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $2,733,524$2,733,524
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$105,777−$105,777
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $117,403$117,403
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $8,578,826 · Unrelated business $115,396 · Excluded from tax $4,235,801$28,642,765
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $14,908,356 across 20 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $571,104 · Management $133,270 · Fundraising $30,637$735,011
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $6,459,452 · Management $1,484,572 · Fundraising $352,485$8,296,509
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $46,969 · Management $16,087 · Fundraising $1,178$64,234
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,069,353 · Management $366,265 · Fundraising $26,804$1,462,422
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $511,187 · Management $109,819 · Fundraising $27,703$648,709
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $46,752$46,752
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $53,410$53,410
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $52,116$52,116
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $47,502 · Management $128,165 · Fundraising $4,685$180,352
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $3,387 · Management $6,667 · Fundraising $7,601$17,655
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $302,020 · Management $96,051 · Fundraising $56,985$455,056
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $17,009 · Management $64,944 · Fundraising $15,894$97,847
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $731,730 · Management $205,713 · Fundraising $537$937,980
IX-17 TravelPrograms $173,650 · Management $47,315 · Fundraising $159$221,124
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,563 · Management $3,516 · Fundraising $489$7,568
IX-20 InterestPrograms $1,670 · Management $3,288 · Fundraising $3,748$8,706
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $642,431 · Management $69,511$711,942
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $244,852 · Management $68,836 · Fundraising $180$313,868
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $371,970 · Management $62,855 · Fundraising $4,840$439,665
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $120,708 · Fundraising $36,722$157,430
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $11,318,557 · Management $3,019,152 · Fundraising $570,647$14,908,356
Part X · Balance sheet $102,113,135 assets, 17 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $151,223; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,733,406$8,300,021
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$111,226
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $720,615$734,291
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,423,599$924,487
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$342,419
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $71,418$77,810
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $12,555,069$21,384,684
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $56,927,186$64,372,322
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $5,793,384$5,714,652
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $80,245,689$102,113,135
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,432,692$2,898,605
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$183,540
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,432,692$3,082,145
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $55,567,085$73,521,648
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $23,245,912$25,509,342
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $78,812,997$99,030,990
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $80,245,689$102,113,135
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $99,030,990 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$28,642,765
XI-2 Total expenses$14,908,356
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$13,734,409
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$78,812,997
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$6,326,679
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$156,905
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$99,030,990

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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