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WAYFINDER FAMILY SERVICES

EIN 95-1977659 VIEW PARK, CA

Revenue 2024
$46,687,538
Expenses 2024
$48,260,256

Program services were 84.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
P860
Classification
1200
Street
5300 ANGELES VISTA BLVD

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

The mission of Wayfinder Family Services is to ensure that children, youth and adults facing challenges always have a place to turn. Founded in 1953 as the Foundation for the Junior Blind, the organization initially enabled visually impaired children to lead fuller and more independent lives. In response to community needs, Wayfinder expanded programs for children, youth and adults with vision loss or profound special needs and serious medical conditions; children and infants who have experienced loss and trauma; foster youth in search of homes and opportunity; and adoptive families. We offer all services at no cost to our clients, most of whom are low-income people of color.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Wayfinder's mission is to ensure that children, youth and adults facing challenges always have a place to turn.

  • Our statewide Foster Care and Adoption programs match children and youth who have been displaced from their homes due to abuse or neglect with families that can provide safe, caring homes. Wayfinder recruits, trains and certifies resource (foster) families, some of whom ultimately adopt the children they foster. We emphasize a child achieving permanency, which can be reunification with birth parents, living with relatives, adoption or guardianship. Also, Wayfinder offers therapeutic post-adoption support that includes case management, mental health therapy and mentoring to children and their adoptive families during and after adoption to promote stability and permanency.

    Expenses $15,054,557 · Grants $1,918,533

  • The Cottage is a 10-day temporary shelter care program on our Los Angeles campus for boys and girls ages 0 through 17 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. These children need temporary refuge until they can be placed with family members or foster families. Our professional staff stabilize children in crisis so they are ready to transition to a placement. Wayfinder is one of only four agencies selected by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services to provide this service-and the only shelter licensed to care for infants and toddlers. Thus, The Cottage receives all children under age 5 in the county who are removed from their homes due to maltreatment and cannot be immediately placed with a friend or family member.

    Expenses $5,844,207

  • Mental Health offers therapy to children, youth, adults and families in our programs, including traumatized youth in The Cottage and The Haven. Wayfinder remains one of only a handful of organizations in the state that offers mental health services to people with disabilities. Our counselors help clients build skills to cope with vision loss, traumatic experiences, unstable environments, abuse, neglect and more. Wayfinder's community mental health services assist residents in need in Los Angeles, Butte and Placer counties. Our mental health care in the community is focused on preventative services to build resilient individuals and families.

    Expenses $6,580,641

  • Families referred to Family Preservation are at risk of having children removed from their home. Through intensive counseling and other services, parents recognize their triggers and learn how to prevent the behaviors that destabilize their family. As a result of Family Preservation, children avoid out-of-home placement or reentry to foster care and can thrive in their nurturing families. This program launched in July 2024 and reflects Wayfinder's commitment to expanding preventive services that can avert the need for crisis intervention.Our Kinship Support Services Program is a kinship navigation service for grandparents, extended family members or close family friends who step up to raise children so they avoid the trauma of separation from their birth family. The program also assists kinship families that form voluntarily, without the assistance of a child welfare agency. Our program offers counseling, assistance with basic needs, support groups and workshops, respite resources and more. Kinship families are more stable, and children maintain their family connections, which produces better long-term outcomes. Our Family Finding services search exhaustively for relatives or people close to children in foster care so they can establish supportive connections. Family finding specialists contact relatives to see if they are interested in phone calls or visits with children in care. Family may not know how to search for the child or even that the child is in foster care. Our specialists coordinate contacts for children and these relatives to build trust and connections so the youth will have a network of caring adults to rely on when they leave foster care. Promoting Safe and Stable Families provides counseling and support to reduce the recurrence of child maltreatment and re-entry into foster care and to increase families' self-sufficiency and positive parenting. The program serves two groups: families that receive intensive services to prevent them from entering the child welfare system and families that receive longer term support as they reunify with a previously removed child. Child and Family Development provides counseling, parent coaching and parenting skills training to birth, adoptive and kinship families whose children are at risk for out-of-home placement due to behavioral, emotional or mental health issues. The program also serves families who have reunified with a child who was previously removed from the home in order to preserve stability and prevent re-entry into out-of-home care.Parents whose children are in foster care receive Supervised Visitation and Coaching services to strengthen parenting skills, enhance parent-child relationships and sustain family ties. Psychosocial Assessment Program assesses resource families, including adoptive families, by completing resource family evaluations within county timeframes.Child Development Services provides early intervention in person to children from birth to age 6 with visual impairment or multiple disabilities. Young children maximize any vision they have and reduce developmental delays. Parents learn to provide their child with therapeutic stimulation and advocate for their child's education and care. Child development reduces the need for special education and increases independence for children with disabilities. Our Special Education School offers children and youth, ages 5 to 22, who are visually impaired or have moderate-to-severe disabilities a safe, positive environment for learning and growth. In the least restrictive environment in our state-certified, non-public school, teachers develop students' communication, mobility and functional skills to increase their independence. Camp Bloomfield provides children and youth who are blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled with memorable experiences in the outdoors. Our camp program offers activities adapted for children of all ages and abilities that develop self-esteem and build independence. Also, Wayfinder offers sports, recreation and outdoor adventures that are adapted for children and teens with disabilities.In Transition Services, teenagers and young adults ages 16 to 25 from across California who are blind or visually impaired explore careers and successfully transition to independent living, college or the workforce. Participants learn assistive technology, independent living, and orientation and mobility (white cane and safe travel) skills. They participate in college-access activities, develop leadership skills, learn job-seeking skills and increase their independence. The program offers weekend workshops and a four-week, in-person summer program in classrooms and dorms on the Cal State Los Angeles campus. The Davidson Program for Independence on Wayfinder's Los Angeles campus and the Hatlen Center for the Blind in Sacramento in Northern California are comprehensive residential rehabilitation programs for adults ages 18 and older who are blind or visually impaired, many with recent vision loss. Participants learn assistive technology, orientation and mobility, braille, and independent living skills. Each client pursues individualized goals that lead to a confident transition to an independent life and education or employment.Assistive Technology Training provides instruction on the latest assistive technology devices and software for success in today's job market to adults with vision loss, ages 18 and older. Employment Services teaches adults who are blind or visually impaired the skills they need to join or rejoin the workforce. Participants attend training on our L.A. campus, remotely, or in person in their homes. They receive assessments, training and job placement, as well as coaching and instruction in orientation and mobility to find and keep jobs. Clients emerge as competitive candidates in the workforce. Also, Wayfinder helps employers adapt workspaces to increase accessibility. Wayfinder's Older Individuals who are Blind program provides adults ages 55 and older who are visually impaired with training to assist them in living independently. Each client has an individualized service plan that specifies goals and activities. Clients receive one-to-one instruction, small group trainings and virtual visits on our L.A. campus, in clients' homes and at senior centers. For each person, trainings combine the seven service categories that meet their needs: low vision, assistive technology, orientation and mobility, communication, activities of daily living, self-advocacy, or adjustment counseling. As a result, older adults gain independence and self-sufficiency so they can participate more fully in their communities. Our Medical Department provides 24-hour services to residents of our three on-campus residential programs, plus students in our Special Education School. Many have complex, intertwined medical, mental health and behavioral needs, which our medical staff are adept at addressing. Medical department staff are nurses, and we contract with a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, endocrinologist and behavioral psychologist. Mental Health offers therapy to children, youth, adults and families in our programs, including traumatized youth in The Cottage and The Haven. Wayfinder remains one of only a handful of organizations in the state that offers mental health services to people with disabilities. Our counselors help clients build skills to cope with vision loss, traumatic experiences, unstable environments, abuse, neglect and more. Wayfinder's community mental health services assist residents in need in Los Angeles, Butte and Placer counties. Our mental health care in the community is focused on preventative services to build resilient individuals and families.Be Well focuses on mental wellness and empowerment of youth ages 14-25 who are experiencing mental health disorders or early symptoms of one. The program mitigates mental health and wellness challenges, while supporting healing for vulnerable youth. The goals are to destigmatize mental health challenges and assist youth in strengthening their resiliency.The Haven provides shelter and long-term foster care for unaccompanied children. The program assists children ages 0 to 17 and pregnant or parenting teenagers who enter the country alone and do not have a parent or legal guardian in the U.S. to care for them. The program includes a group home on our L.A. campus housing boys ages 12 to 17, basic foster care in family homes for children ages 0 to 17, and therapeutic foster care in the homes of trained families for children ages 0 to 17 with significant emotional, behavioral, medical or developmental needs. Wayfinder addresses these children's complex, intertwined needs; provides stability; reduces trauma; and locates suitable sponsors.

    Expenses $13,268,112

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Glenn A Sonnenberg

    Chair of Board

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Linda Myerson Dean

    Vice Chair of Board

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Scott M Farkas Esq

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Erica Fernandez

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Elworth AE Williams

    Immediate Past Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Harold A Davidson DBA

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Timothy E Ford Esq

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Robert D Held

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Steve L Hernandez Esq

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jonathan I Macy MD

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • John Nicolaus

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Fernando Villa

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tara Voss

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Stevie Wonder

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jay Allen

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $414,302
    From this org
    $378,302
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,000
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $353,108
    Bonus
    $23,295
    Other
    $1,899
    Deferred
    $36,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $414,302

  • Blythe Maling

    Senior VP & Chief Develop.

    Total calculated
    $264,951
    From this org
    $226,035
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,916
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $218,386
    Bonus
    $7,649
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $24,334
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,582
    Filer's total
    $264,951

  • Carol Ramirez

    VP and Chief Program Officer

    Total calculated
    $188,029
    From this org
    $180,354
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,675
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $179,474
    Bonus
    $880
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,675
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $188,029

  • Dawn Vo-Jutabha

    Chief Operating Officer

    Total calculated
    $286,282
    From this org
    $248,771
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $37,511
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $234,445
    Bonus
    $14,326
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $24,229
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,282
    Filer's total
    $286,282

  • Fernando Almodovar

    Chief Financial Officer

    Total calculated
    $212,123
    From this org
    $168,107
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $44,016
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,085
    Bonus
    $14,022
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $29,432
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,584
    Filer's total
    $212,123

  • Carmen Garcia

    Chief People Officer

    Total calculated
    $228,897
    From this org
    $193,753
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,144
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,297
    Bonus
    $13,456
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $20,987
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,157
    Filer's total
    $228,897

  • Miki Jordan

    Consultant

    Total calculated
    $206,560
    From this org
    $206,560
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    20

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $206,560
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $206,560

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $46,687,538
    Expenses
    $48,260,256
    Contributions
    $44,357,713
    Grants paid
    $1,918,533
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $46,687,538
    Expenses
    $48,260,256
    Contributions
    $44,357,713
    Grants paid
    $1,918,533
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $43,819,332
    Expenses
    $46,433,459
    Contributions
    $40,782,068
    Grants paid
    $2,893,714
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $47,315,306
    Expenses
    $48,120,227
    Contributions
    $45,731,938
    Grants paid
    $3,697,243

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $45,641,651
    Expenses
    $47,801,079
    Assets (EOY)
    $58,442,837

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $46,169,493
    Expenses
    $46,738,820
    Assets (EOY)
    $65,603,517

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $33,214,737
    Expenses
    $33,026,197
    Assets (EOY)
    $57,787,591

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $32,695,215
    Expenses
    $32,191,742
    Assets (EOY)
    $52,639,641

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $28,760,740
    Expenses
    $27,208,764
    Assets (EOY)
    $49,764,263

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $24,332,272
    Expenses
    $25,069,635
    Assets (EOY)
    $46,364,004

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $22,572,887
    Expenses
    $24,529,072
    Assets (EOY)
    $47,510,583

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $19,415,851
    Expenses
    $20,798,896
    Assets (EOY)
    $48,339,236

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $17,323,308
    Assets (EOY)
    $44,798,263

  • 2011 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $15,101,100
    Assets (EOY)
    $43,089,223

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

California fundraising campaigns

Campaigns run by paid fundraisers, commercial coventurers and thrift stores naming this organization, as California published them. Both figures are as filed, and what the first one counts depends on the campaign type — a coventurer or a thrift store files its own sales rather than money collected for the charity. The 990 reports this only as a yearly total, never per campaign.

  • DONATE LOCAL LLC

    $2,500 raised

    2023 CF Vehicle Donation Program

    $739 to charity

  • DONATE LOCAL LLC

    $0 raised

    2022 CF Vehicle Donation Program

    $0 to charity

  • DONATE LOCAL LLC

    $11,850 raised

    2021 CF Vehicle Donation Program

    $2,870 to charity

  • DONATE LOCAL LLC

    $3,175 raised

    2020 CF Vehicle Donation Program

    $1,073 to charity

Amounts are as filed and do not add up: a commercial coventurer reports one promotion's whole gross once for each charity that shared in it. A campaign may also name more than one registered charity, in which case it appears on each.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.