Beads of Courage Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDING INNOVATIVE ARTS IN MEDICINE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN COPING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHO CARE FOR THEM.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 66%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 72
- Highest pay
- $83,500, mission officer
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 57% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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 (4)
- $783,520 spent. THE BEADS OF COURAGE PROGRAM IS OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND IS A RESILIENCE-BASED INTERVENTION DESGINED TO SUPPORT AND STRENTHEN CHILDREN AND TEENS COPING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS THE STANDARD OF CARE IN MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS WORLDWIDE. THROUGH THE PROGRAM CHILDREN TELL THEIR STORY USING COLORFUL BEADS THAT SERVE AS MEANINGFUL SYMBOLS HONORING THEIR COURAGE DISPLAYED ALONG THEIR UNIQUE TREATMENT PATH. BEADS OF COURAGE, INC. MAINTAINS THE INVENOTRY OF ALL PROGRAM MATERIALS FOR IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDING ALL TRAINING MATERIALS, THE BEADS OF COURAGE AMBASSADOR WORKSHOP FOR REFLECTION AND RENEWAL, FLAGSHIP PROGRAM BEADS, HANDMADE BEADS, STORAGE SOLUTIONS, PRINT AND ALL PROGRAM RELATED MATERIALS CURRENTLY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OVER 75,000 CHILDREN IN OVER 300 HOSPITALS WORLDWIDE. THERE ARE SPECIFIC BEADS OF COURAGE PROGRAM BEAD GUIDES TO SUPPORT CHILDREN COPING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS SUCH AS CANCER, BLOOD CONDITIONS, CARDIAC CONDITIONS, VARIOUS CHRONIC CONDITIONS, REHABILITATION, TRAUMA AND BURN INJURY RECOVERY AND EXPERIENCES IN PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE AND NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.
- $170,642 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAMS CONNECT THE KINDNESS OF OTHERS WITH THE COURAGE OF THE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND CLINICIANS. MISSION CENTRIC ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAMS ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO BE A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR A CHILD OR TEEN THAT WE SUPPORT. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUR INNOVATIVE CARRY A BEAD PROGRAM; STRENGTH BRACELETS, COURAGE CLIPS; BEAD MAKING WORKSHOPS; ART CARD KITS. ADDITIONALY, OUR ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE GREAT WORK WE DO TO SOLICIT DONATIONS OF BEADS FROM BEAD AND POLYMER ARTISTS; BOXES AND BOWLS FROM WOODTURNERS; AND SUPPORTING OUR PARTNER STUDIOS WHO HOST BEAD MAKING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF THE OPORTUNITY FOR BEADS OF COURAGE CHILDREN TO SUBMIT THEIR "DREAM BEAD" REQUEST.
- $38,519 spent. COMPLIMENTARY PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CHILDREN COPING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE CLINICIANS WHO CARE FOR THEM. THEY ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO THRIVE IN A SUPPORTIVE CONTEXT THAT INCLUDES THEIR FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND THE PROFESSIONAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WHO CARE FOR THEM. BEADS OF COURAGE'S COMPLIMENTARY PROGRAMS INCLUDE BEADS OF COURAGE: SIBLING PROGRAM, BEAD STRONG, BEAD MINDFUL FOR CLINICIANS, I'M FINE WORKSHOPS FOR CLINICIANS, DREAM (DRAW, RELAX AND EMBRACE ART AND THE MIND), THE BEADS OF COURAGE STRAND FOR STRENGTH AND REMEMBRANCE WORKSHOP, AND POWER PENDANTS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
- $12,185 spent. CENTER FOR ARTS IN NURSING (CAN) PROGRAMS EXIST TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN EXPERIENCES IN HUMAN CARING THROUGH THE ARTS. ADOPTING BEADS OF COURAGE PROGRAMS (BEAD STRONG, BEAD MINDFUL, DREAM, AND I'M F.I.N.E.), THE CENTER FOR ARTS IN NURSING PROVIDES FOR THE POSITIVE WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN THROUGH THE ARTS, INCLUDING CLINICIANS. BEAD MINDFUL AND I'M F.I.N.E. ARE PROVIDED TO CLINICIANS SEEKING A MEANINGFUL AND CONSISTENT PRACTICE OF REFLECTION AND RENEWAL. USING BEADS, POETRY, AND CONNECTION, THE PROGRAMS CREATE SPACE FOR PURPOSEFUL PRESENCE, AIMING TO EASE STRESS, REDUCE CAREGIVER BURNOUT, AND ENRICH THE CAREGIVING EXPERIENCE WHEREVER IT'S EMBRACED. THROUGH THE DREAM PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS USE THE POWER OF ART, EXPRESSION, AND CONNECTION TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO DRAW, REFLECT, AND EMBRACE THE HEALING POWER OF ART. THROUGH THE BEADS STRONG PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS ARE INDTRODUCED TO AND USE THE ELEMENTS OF MINDFULNESS - BREATHWORK, MANDALAS, MANTRAS, EXPRESSIVE AND REFLECTIVE ART AND THE ARTFORM OF BEADS CARE FOR THEIR WHOLE-SELF AND WELL-BEING.
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
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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