The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is dedicated to leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with ALS and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. The Golden West Chapter supports people living with ALS and their loved ones in 31 counties throughout California and the entire state of Hawaii.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.4M 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

FY2023 · 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
4 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.3M a year · 12% of revenue · last 4 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 4 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 15% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 15% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
15 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 15.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $158K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.6M
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$10.2M
+16% vs prior year
Spent
$9.2M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$11.7M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$10.2M
FY2023▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$8.8M
FY2023$10.2M
FY2024$11.5M
FY2025$13.5M
Expenses
$9.2M
FY2023▲ +23%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$7.5M
FY2023$9.2M
FY2024$10.1M
FY2025$12.0M
Net assets
$11.7M
FY2023▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$9.4M
FY2023$11.7M
FY2024$13.2M
FY2025$14.6M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending January 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 2024.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $7.6M Management & general 8% · $740K Fundraising 9% · $838K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

23 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
President/CEO
$504,676Pt VII · Sec A
$293,446Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Development
$196,903Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance & Admin.
$150,644Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Community Outreach
$138,377Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Care Services
$126,241Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Fred B Fisher’s $399K as President Emeritus is at the 64th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2901 $10–100M health care 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2021
Fred B Fisher$398,596$662,148$504,676$388,033
Sheri Strahl$354,445$304,091$293,446$177,784
Cherryl Fluk$239,404———
Cherryl Goldstein—$220,397$196,903$188,404
Jon Asher Garfinkel$153,732$143,702$138,377$129,502
Paul Willett$146,976$139,355$150,644$110,000
Audra Hindes$145,245$134,845$126,241$110,000
Eric Beikmann$132,501———

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 Als Network executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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

Supports people with ALS and their families through research, advocacy, and compassionate care.

Questions for Als Network

Tap to ask. Als Network sees how many people are interested.

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

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $7.1M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Our mission critical program priorities include care services, research, and advocacy. These programs are provided to people with ALS and their families at no charge. Our accomplishments for fiscal year ending 1/31/23 are as follows:Care Management -Strategically based in and near patients' home communities, the Chapter's Care Managers…

$4.4Mprogram expense
02

Community Outreach & Awareness/Public Policy -Community outreach events, including our Walks to Defeat ALS, are opportunities to bring hope and a sense of community to persons with ALS and their families.

$1.4Mprogram expense
03

ALS Clinic Support -The Golden West Chapter is committed to making sure that people living with ALS have access to specialized care that is based on best practices. Proven by research to help people with ALS live longer and better lives, access to multidisciplinary clinics is one of the cornerstones of the Golden West Chapter's…

$1.2Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Als NorthwestFY2025$150K
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$158K
Grants paid · 44 grants · $5.4M · 2020–2024
Als Association Greater Sacramento ChapterCA · FY2024$216,336
Als Southwest AssociationCA · FY2024$173,934
Forbes Norris Als Research CenterCA · FY2024$100,000
Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterCA · FY2024$100,000
Uc Davis Multidisciplinary Als ClinicFY2024$100,000
Als Association Greater Sacramento ChapterCA · FY2023$226,936
Als Southwest AssociationCA · FY2023$182,434
Forbes Norris Als Research CenterCA · FY2023$100,000
Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterCA · FY2023$100,000
See all 44 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$10.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Money outPt IX
$9.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$7.6M
Managementcol C$740K
Fundraisingcol D$838K
Owns and owesPt X
$11.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$11.5M
Total assetsLn 16$13.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$7K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Total revenueLn 12$10.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$10.3M
SavingsLn 2$1.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$11.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$626K
Total assetsLn 16$13.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.6M
Net assetsLn 32$11.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 550
VolunteersI 6578
Fiscal year endsHeaderJanuary
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$10.6M$11.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$12.0M$13.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M$1.6M
Net assetsLn 32$10.6M$11.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.4M$1.4M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$477K$357K$24K$95K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.4M$2.8M$312K$257K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$79K$66K$7K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$426K$350K$37K$39K
Payroll taxesLn 10$326K$268K$28K$30K
Legal feesLn 11b$88K$86K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$19K$19K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$48K$48K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$625K$391K$104K$130K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$15K$12K$1K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$577K$481K$47K$49K
OccupancyLn 16$259K$221K$13K$24K
TravelLn 17$180K$148K$16K$16K
InterestLn 20$10K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$40K$33K$3K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.3M$952K$116K$185K
All other expensesLn 24e$14K$13K$659$688
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.2M$7.6M$740K$838K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $13.5M$12.0M$1.5M$14.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $11.5M$10.1M$1.5M$13.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $10.2M$9.2M$1.0M$11.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 Not on file
FY2021 $8.8M$7.5M$1.3M$9.4M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $10,245,280 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $10,467,543$10,242,961
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $587$2,319
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $10,468,130$10,245,280
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,388,759$1,388,434
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,506,022$4,695,681
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,381,873$3,127,577
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $9,276,654$9,211,692
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,191,476$1,033,588
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
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 $10,245,280 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,251,054
VIII-1e Government grants$5,077,814
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,914,093
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$6,982
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$10,242,961
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,319$2,319
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,319$10,245,280
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,211,692 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,388,434$1,388,434
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $357,380 · Management $23,825 · Fundraising $95,302$476,507
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,819,351 · Management $311,712 · Fundraising $256,734$3,387,797
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $65,933 · Management $7,220 · Fundraising $6,282$79,435
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $350,105 · Management $37,032 · Fundraising $38,585$425,722
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $268,233 · Management $28,355 · Fundraising $29,632$326,220
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $86,450 · Management $1,682$88,132
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $19,100$19,100
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $48,000$48,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $390,744 · Management $103,802 · Fundraising $130,197$624,743
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $11,986 · Management $1,267 · Fundraising $1,324$14,577
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $480,835 · Management $46,857 · Fundraising $48,968$576,660
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $221,233 · Management $13,305 · Fundraising $24,440$258,978
IX-17 TravelPrograms $148,060 · Management $15,651 · Fundraising $16,357$180,068
IX-20 InterestManagement $10,081$10,081
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $32,913 · Management $3,479 · Fundraising $3,636$40,028
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $951,948 · Management $115,966 · Fundraising $185,371$1,253,285
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $12,578 · Management $659 · Fundraising $688$13,925
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $7,634,183 · Management $739,993 · Fundraising $837,516$9,211,692
Part X · Balance sheet $13,316,104 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $9,675,612$10,331,845
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $925,025$1,198,910
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $831,428$852,074
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $486,551$288,301
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $64,244$18,832
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $21,185$626,142
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $12,004,045$13,316,104
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $484,997$865,626
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $722,010$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$619,625
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,367,007$1,645,251
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $8,442,279$9,301,541
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,194,759$2,369,312
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $10,637,038$11,670,853
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $12,004,045$13,316,104
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $11,670,853 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$10,245,280
XI-2 Total expenses$9,211,692
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,033,588
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$10,637,038
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$227
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$11,670,853

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.