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Rod Dedeaux Foundation

EIN 20-4084224 · Commerce, CA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO IMPACT EVERY STEP OF A BALLPLAYER'S JOURNEY, FROM THE DUGOUT TO THE FINAL OUT. WE COLLABORATE WITH GROUNDBREAKING BENEFICIARIES TO CREATE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITY'S AT-RISK YOUTH TO EXCEL ON THE DIAMOND, IN THE CLASSROOM, AND IN THE GAME OF LIFE. EMBODYING ROD DEDEAUX'S FERVENT OPTIMISM FOR THE COMMUNITIES HE SERVED, RDF IS STEADFAST IN REWRITING THE NARRATIVE OF BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL IN URBAN AMERICA.

Income
$442,928
Spending
$352,394
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 107% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 29 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (2)
  1. $168,923 spent. CLINICS:IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EDUCATIONAL SPORTS INSTITUTE (ESI), ROD DEDEAUX FOUNDATION HOSTS OUR ANNUAL YOUTH CLINIC, WHERE MORE THAN 300 MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS FROM THE COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GATHER AT DOMINGUEZ HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, DODGERS DREAM FIELD AND OTHER LOCATIONS, TO PARTICIPATE IN BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL INSTRUCTIONAL STATIONS AND COMPETITIONS. COACHES RANGE FROM CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGIATE PLAYERS, TO CURRENT AND FORMER MLB PLAYERS. IN ADDITION TO A VALUABLE DAY ON THE FIELD, THE PARTICIPANTS ARE PROVIDED WITH BREAKFAST, LUNCH, EXCITING GIVEAWAYS AND MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME.
  2. $124,500 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: EVERY YEAR, THE ROD DEDEAUX FOUNDATION AWARDS A $7,500 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP TO ONE MALE BASEBALL PLAYER AND ONE FEMALE SOFTBALL PLAYER FROM THE COMPTON YOUTH ACADEMY. THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS RENEWABLE ANNUALLY (4 YEARS, $30K TOTAL) PROVIDED THE WINNERS MAINTAIN A 3.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA). IN ORDER TO BE A SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATE, APPLICANTS MUST INITIALLY COMPLETE THE FULL APPLICATION, WHICH INCLUDES AN ESSAY, THEIR CURRENT TRANSCRIPTS, THEIR FAMILIES' CURRENT FINANCIAL DATA, AND A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. ONCE ALL APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED, APPLICANTS COMPLETE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE COMPTON YOUTH ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE SCORES THE APPLICANTS ON A SCALE OF 1-5 IN 5 CATEGORIES: ATHLETICS, ACADEMICS (GPA), COMMUNITY SERVICE (PHILANTHROPY), INVOLVEMENT AT THE MLB UYA, AND FINANCIAL NEED. ONCE ALL INTERVIEWS AND SCORING ARE COMPLETE, THE WINNERS ARE CHOSEN. TO DATE, RDF HAS AWARDED OVER $400,000 THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.

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

  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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2023.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2022. Organizations that miss three years of returns lose their exemption.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.