Special Service for Groups INC

Tax-deductible

Los Angeles, CA501(c)(3)Since 1952Human ServicesEIN 95-1716914Revenue $264.2M in FY2025

On file with the IRSssg.org905 E 8th St, 90021-1848 · Los Angeles, CATax-exempt since May 1952Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Special Service for Groups, ("SSG"), is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing community-based solutions to the social and economic issues facing those in the greatest need. SSG has evolved into a model organization which is designed to provide service to diverse groups with maximum efficiency and impact. This is achieved by developing and managing programs which serve our many communities by encouraging their involvement and self-sufficiency. SSG believes that the needs of groups and individuals cross traditional ethnic, racial, and other cultural boundaries. SSG serves as a bridge between people with common needs to identify ways to pool resources for the greatest good of all.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 415 volunteers and 1,708 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $6.3M a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$4.8M
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 61% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.7 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
22
named funders · $1.9M
Looks good: 22 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$88.6M
64% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 64% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$264.2M
+18% vs prior year
Spent
$256.4M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$49.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$264.2M
FY2025▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$133.2M
FY2021$152.7M
FY2022$149.1M
FY2023$169.9M
FY2024$223.2M
FY2025$264.2M
Expenses
$256.4M
FY2025▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$130.6M
FY2021$141.3M
FY2022$147.0M
FY2023$167.8M
FY2024$211.5M
FY2025$256.4M
Net assets
$49.0M
FY2025▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.3M
FY2021$22.9M
FY2022$23.5M
FY2023$25.8M
FY2024$39.5M
FY2025$49.0M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1952.

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

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $231.8M Management & general 10% · $24.6M

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

21 people listed on the 990; $4.8M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Exec. Director/Secretary
$459,793Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance
$431,259Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Admin.
$421,515Pt VII · Sec A
Medical Director
$395,400Pt VII · Sec A
Division Director
$369,885Pt VII · Sec A
Asst Medical Director
$361,694Pt VII · Sec A
Division Director
$355,331Pt VII · Sec A
Medical Director
$348,406Pt VII · Sec A

Herbert Hatanaka’s $460K as Exec. Director/Secretary is at the 61st percentile of top reported officer pay among 249 $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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Herbert Hatanaka$459,793$455,861$391,791$320,639$352,062$342,203
Beth De Los Santos$431,259$424,160$358,755$285,550$264,584$267,991
Hayley Levy$421,515$414,586$355,754$274,289$264,620$248,079
Brett J Sevilla$395,400$356,695$363,079$307,333$315,031$311,476
Emily Bell$369,885$367,027$321,668$224,675$206,653$164,492
Benjamiin Shin$361,694—————
Sheila Tsai Wu$355,331$359,556$288,648$191,185$191,376$166,779
Veronica Lewis$223,729$354,586$335,126$261,010$212,351—

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 Special Service for Groups INC 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 behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, and HIV/AIDS services to vulnerable communities and marginalized populations in Southern California.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $231.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Homeless Services

Street outreach to homeless individuals, youth and families. Services include permanent and transitional housing placement, emergency shelter, case management, job training and transportation assistance. In addition, Homeless Services Programs includes a full service portal to serve individuals/families in South L.A.

$124.7Mprogram expense
02

Mental Health Services

Prevention education and intervention, forensic social services, emotional and psychosocial support, outpatient mental health counseling service, assessment and follow-up treatment for children and family mental illness and substance abuse.

$81.1Mprogram expense
03

Job and Education

Access to Prevention Advocacy Intervention and Treatment (APAIT) is the most comprehensive provider of HIV/AIDS services for API in Southern California. Its history is rooted in advocacy and provides critical services to the most vulnerable in the community during times of crisis and when other support systems are difficult to access.

$26.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 22 funders →
Grants paid · 154 grants · $141.2M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$24,640,749
Unitemized GrantFY2023$15,569,720
Unitemized GrantFY2022$13,246,427
Abundant Blessings from Above INCFY2022$4,366,619
La Global CareCA · FY2022$2,713,290
Connections for Women INCCA · FY2022$1,303,350
Tarzana Treatment Centers INCCA · FY2022$522,500
Sustainable Futures ProjectCA · FY2022$313,929
Chinatown Service CenterCA · FY2022$221,611
See all 154 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$264.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$264.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$164K
Money outPt IX
$256.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$231.8M
Managementcol C$24.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$49.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$15.0M
Total assetsLn 16$137.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$88.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A14
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$264.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$259.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$164K
Total revenueLn 12$264.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$0
SavingsLn 2$15.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$15.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$50.8M
Other assetsLn 15$24.4M
Total assetsLn 16$137.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$88.6M
Net assetsLn 32$49.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51,708
VolunteersI 6415
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$12.5M$15.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$37.6M$50.8M
Total assetsLn 16$122.7M$137.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$83.3M$88.6M
Net assetsLn 32$39.5M$49.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$18.2M$18.2M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$24.6M$24.6M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$3.6M$1.5M$2.2M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$109.1M$101.8M$7.3M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$6.5M$5.8M$742K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$13.8M$12.1M$1.7M
Payroll taxesLn 10$8.2M$7.1M$1.1M
Accounting feesLn 11c$186K$186K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$19.1M$16.9M$2.2M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$28K$18K$11K
Office expensesLn 13$6.3M$5.3M$1.0M
OccupancyLn 16$22.4M$19.2M$3.3M
TravelLn 17$1.2M$1.1M$106K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$679K$617K$62K
InterestLn 20$1.5M$959K$540K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2.0M$1.1M$896K
InsuranceLn 23$1.7M$130K$1.6M
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$14.2M$13.5M$707K
All other expensesLn 24e$2.9M$1.9M$1.0M
Total functional expensesLn 25$256.4M$231.8M$24.6M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $264.2M$256.4M$7.8M$49.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $223.2M$211.5M$11.7M$39.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $169.9M$167.8M$2.2M$25.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $149.1M$147.0M$2.1M$23.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $152.7M$141.3M$11.5M$22.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $133.2M$130.6M$2.6M$8.3M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $264,215,489 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $222,852,640$264,051,230
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $348,026$164,259
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $223,200,666$264,215,489
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $35,563,459$42,874,575
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $117,039,977$141,215,122
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $58,940,630$72,277,391
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $211,544,066$256,367,088
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $11,656,600$7,848,401
Part VI · Governance 7 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members7
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 $264,215,489 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$259,877,933
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,173,297
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$264,051,230
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $164,259$164,259
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $164,259 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$264,215,489
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $256,367,088 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $18,233,826$18,233,826
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $24,640,749$24,640,749
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,457,367 · Management $2,186,050$3,643,417
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $101,822,932 · Management $7,252,189$109,075,121
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $5,798,589 · Management $741,701$6,540,290
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $12,067,877 · Management $1,722,439$13,790,316
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $7,107,961 · Management $1,058,017$8,165,978
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $186,100$186,100
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $16,868,013 · Management $2,210,161$19,078,174
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $17,628 · Management $10,642$28,270
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,306,758 · Management $1,007,067$6,313,825
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $19,151,415 · Management $3,267,660$22,419,075
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,088,007 · Management $105,552$1,193,559
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $617,388 · Management $61,652$679,040
IX-20 InterestPrograms $958,688 · Management $540,292$1,498,980
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,145,749 · Management $896,179$2,041,928
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $130,108 · Management $1,592,790$1,722,898
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $13,489,462 · Management $707,455$14,196,917
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,887,981 · Management $1,030,644$2,918,625
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $231,790,498 · Management $24,576,590 · Fundraising $0$256,367,088
Part X · Balance sheet $137,641,471 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,180,356$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $10,325,909$14,975,849
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $45,025,515$43,397,323
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $76,436$704,383
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,163,363$3,268,371
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $37,555,441$50,846,235
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $25,418,244$24,449,310
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $122,745,264$137,641,471
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $27,502,483$26,592,561
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $9,259,095$8,495,852
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $21,349,888$18,537,621
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $83,250,881$88,621,421
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $39,494,383$49,020,050
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $39,494,383$49,020,050
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $122,745,264$137,641,471
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $49,020,050 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$264,215,489
XI-2 Total expenses$256,367,088
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$7,848,401
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$39,494,383
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1,677,266
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$49,020,050

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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