Narrow Gate Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE A CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG MEN AGES 18-25 DESIRING TO TAKE A PAUSE FROM THE DISTRACTIONS OF LIFE TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS HERE ON EARTH. THIS EXPERIENCE INCLUDES LIVING IN A WILDERNESS ENVIRONMENT, PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY WORK PROJECTS, AND STUDYING THE BIBLE TO HELP SHAPE THEM INTO GODLY YOUNG MEN.
- Income
- $3.8 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 58%
- Employees
- 55
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $116,728, director of operations
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
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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)
- $3.2 million spent. NARROW GATE'S PROGRAM IS AN 8 MONTH PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG MEN AGES 18-25, HAVING THEM LIVE IN A WILDERNESS ENVIRONMENT, PARTICIPATE IN DAILY CHORES AND COMMUNITY WORK PROJECTS TO BUILD TEAMWORK AND DEVELOP GOOD WORK DISCIPLINES, GOING ON CHALLENGING ADVENTURES AND STUDYING THE BIBLE AND OTHER CHRISTIAN CURRICULUM. IN 2024, APPROXIMATELY 36 YOUNG MEN PARTICIPATED IN NARROW GATE'S PROGRAM. AFTER GRADUATION, MOST OF THESE YOUNG MEN EITHER ELECT TO CONTINUE THEIR BIBLICAL LEARNING AND GO INTO FULL TIME MINISTRY WITH CHURCHES OR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ENTER UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY THE PASSION THAT GOD GAVE THEM, SUCH AS HORTICULTURE, HEALTH CARE AND BUSINESS DEGREES, OR ELECT TO SERVE IN THE MISSION FIELD.
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 January 2005.
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.