The Promise Tour
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO DEVELOP AND PRESENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE AS TO THE DANGERS OF DRINKING AND DRIVING AND THE CHALLENGES AND SPECIAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL HANDICAPS.
- Income
- $180,353
- Spending
- $147,247
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- 10.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $57,275, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 258% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $81,117 spent. THE BLAKE MCMEANS FOUNDATION EXISTS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON THE DANGERS OF DRINKING & DRIVING, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING GOOD DECISIONS. BLAKE MCMEANS CONTINUES TO TRAVEL ACROSS TENNESSEE AND SURROUNDING STATES, SHARING HIS POWERFUL STORY WITH TEENS AND STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL SIZES. IN 2024, BLAKE VISITED OVER 40 SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS, REACHING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WITH HIS LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE. THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE HAS RECOGNIZED THE BLAKE MCMEANS FOUNDATION AS A TEEN-GRANTEE FOR 2022, 2023 AND 2024. THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, THE THSO TRACKS AND REPORTS STATISTICS RELATED TO IMPAIRED DRIVING THROUGH THE "GRANTEE CRASH PERFORMANCE MEASURES PROGRAM".
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.