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Passes our checks

USA Cares Inc

EIN 05-0588761 · Louisville, KY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

USA CARES' MISSION IS TO PROVIDE POST-9/11 MILITARY VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND POST-SERVICE SKILLS TRAINING TO CREATE A FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM STABILITY. OUR SERVICES IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND REDUCE THE POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO VETERAN SUICIDE.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
39
Volunteers
110
Highest pay
$95,706, president, c

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $4.6 million spent. MILITARY ASSISTANCE RESPONSE PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM ASSISTS VETERANS OR SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE FACING TEMPORARY FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS. WE ASSIST IN PAYING ESSENTIAL BILLS AS A RESULT OF A MILITARY SERVICE-RELATED OR MEDICAL INCIDENT. OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO CREATE A FOUNDATION FOR LONG TERM STABILITY. EXPENSES: 4,559,292.31 GRANTS: 3,009,395.27
  2. $226,492 spent. CAREER TRANSITION: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR THE HIRING PROCESS AND REFERS QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO CORPORATE ORGANIZATIONS WITH OPEN POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT SPECIFIC TO THEIR SKILL SETS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROGRAM HELPS PAY AN INDIVIDUAL'S ESSENTIAL EXPENSES WHILE THEY TRAIN FOR A NEW JOB OR CAREER. EXPENSES: 226,492.09 GRANTS: 143,913.03
  3. $116,742 spent. THE HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM ("HVRP") THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS AN EMPLOYMENT-FOCUSED PROGRAM OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. AS AN HVRP GRANTEE, USA CARES PROVIDES JOB TRAINING, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND PLACEMENT SERVICES TO CONNECT HOMELESS VETERANS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS IN 65 KENTUCKY COUNTIES AND TO ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS FACING HOMELESS VETERANS, USA CARES ALSO WORKS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS AT ALL LEVELS (FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL) TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND ACCESS TO HOUSING. EXPENSES: 116,741.81 GRANTS: 10,654.70
  4. $41,866 spent. CSP CORPORATE FELLOWSHIP: FORT KNOX'S ACES, FORT KNOX TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP), AND USA CARES' CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAM PROVIDE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR THOSE PREPARING FOR THE TRANSITION FROM MILITARY SERVICE INTO THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, EACH PARTICIPANT WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A FELLOWSHIP AT A LOCAL ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE KENTUCKIANA REGION. EXPENSES: 75,321.79
  5. CSP CORPORATE FELLOWSHIP: FORT KNOX'S ACES, FORT KNOX TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP), AND USA CARES' CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAM PROVIDE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR THOSE PREPARING FOR THE TRANSITION FROM MILITARY SERVICE INTO THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, EACH PARTICIPANT WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A FELLOWSHIP AT A LOCAL ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE KENTUCKIANA REGION. EXPENSES: 75,321.79

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.