Make Good Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MAKE GOOD BELIEVES IN BUILDING A MORE EQUITABLE SOCIETY BY PROVIDING IMMEDIATE, ON-THE-GROUND IMPACT TO LOS ANGELES' MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THROUGH OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS: THE BOOK FOUNDATION AND TAY SHOP AT THE EMPORIUM: FOSTER RESOURCE AND LITERACY CENTER, WE OFFER TARGETED PROGRAMS TO THOSE MOST AT RISK OF FALLING BEHIND. WE BELIEVE BEING LITERATE GOES BEYOND WORDS AND BOOKS. IT INCLUDES FINANCIAL AND NUTRITIONAL LITERACY, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND HAVING ONE'S NEEDS MET WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. WE AVOID A DUPLICATION OF EFFORT AND PROVIDE DEEPLY ENRICHED PROGRAMS BY PARTNERING WITH 'BEST-IN-CLASS' ORGANIZATIONS TO EFFECT POSITIVE AND LASTING CHANGE.
- Income
- $674,293
- Spending
- $604,785
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $49,992, pres/exec di
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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 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 (2)
- $201,161 spent. THE BOOK FOUNDATION WAS LAUNCHED IN 2014 BY FORMER HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR, RUTH STALFORD. THE INITIAL IDEA WAS SIMPLE: GET NEW BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF CHILDREN IN UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS. THE RESEARCH WAS CLEAR, CHILDREN GROWING UP IN HOMES WITH NO BOOKS ARE "ON AVERAGE" THREE YEARS BEHIND IN SCHOOL THAN CHILDREN WHO HAVE ACCESS TO LOTS OF BOOKS. IN LOW-INCOME AREAS THE RATIO OF BOOKS TO CHILDREN IS 1 TO 300. RUTH'S PASSION WAS CONTAGIOUS AND SHE SOON BEGAN PARTNERING WITH LIKE MINDED ORGANIZATIONS. HER GOAL EARLY ON WAS NOT TO DUPLICATE EFFORTS AND INSTEAD TO PARTNER WITH THE BEST OF BREED ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSIONS- AND POPULATIONS' WERE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE BOOK FOUNDATION. SINCE ITS INCEPTION THE BOOK FOUNDATION HAS GIVEN AWAY OVER 300,000 BOOKS TO 75,000 AT-RISK CHILDREN. THE BOOK FOUNDATION WAS LAUNCHED IN 2014 BY FORMER HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR, RUTH STALFORD. THE INITIAL IDEA WAS SIMPLE: GET NEW BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF CHILDREN IN UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS. THE RESEARCH WAS CLEAR, CHILDREN GROWING UP IN HOMES WITH NO BOOKS ARE "ON AVERAGE" THREE YEARS BEHIND IN SCHOOL THAN CHILDREN WHO HAVE ACCESS TO LOTS OF BOOKS. IN LOW-INCOME AREAS THE RATIO OF BOOKS TO CHILDREN IS 1 TO 300. RUTH'S PASSION WAS CONTAGIOUS AND SHE SOON BEGAN PARTNERING WITH LIKE MINDED ORGANIZATIONS. HER GOAL EARLY ON WAS NOT TO DUPLICATE EFFORTS AND INSTEAD TO PARTNER WITH THE BEST OF BREED ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSIONS- AND POPULATIONS' WERE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE BOOK FOUNDATION. SINCE ITS INCEPTION THE BOOK FOUNDATION HAS GIVEN AWAY OVER 300,000 BOOKS TO 75,000 AT-RISK CHILDREN.
- $356,006 spent. INSPIRED BY FOSTER CARE COUNTS' GOODS FOR GRADES PROGRAM, THE TAY SHOP WAS FOUNDED IN EARLY 2017 TO PROVIDE TRANSITION AGE FOSTER YOUTH(TAY)IN LA COUNTY WITH NEW CLOTHING, ESSENTIAL ITEMS, AND OR COURSE BOOKS, TO HELP EASE THEIR TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. WE PARTNER WITH JOB TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE A PERSONALIZED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR TAY YOUTH AT OUR STOREFRONT. THIS CURATED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IS COMPLEMENTED WITH ON-SITE LIFE SKILLS AND LITERACY WORKSHOPS FOR TAY YOUTH. SINCE ITS INCEPTION WE HAVE SERVED MORE THAN 7,500 YOUNG PEOPLE, GIVING AWAY THOUSANDS OF SELF-ESTEEM BOOSTING NEW CLOTHING AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS. THE TAY SHOP SPACE HAS EVELOVED INTO A COLLABORATIVE HUB WHERE ORGANIZATIOONS WHO SERVE THIS POPULATION CAN CONNECT AND GATHER TO IMPROVE THE OUTSCOMES FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY EXIT THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. INSPIRED BY FOSTER CARE COUNTS' GOODS FOR GRADES PROGRAM, THE TAY SHOP WAS FOUNDED IN EARLY 2017 TO PROVIDE TRANSITION AGE FOSTER YOUTH(TAY)IN LA COUNTY WITH NEW CLOTHING, ESSENTIAL ITEMS, AND OR COURSE BOOKS, TO HELP EASE THEIR TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. WE PARTNER WITH JOB TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE A PERSONALIZED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR TAY YOUTH AT OUR STOREFRONT. THIS CURATED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IS COMPLEMENTED WITH ON-SITE LIFE SKILLS AND LITERACY WORKSHOPS FOR TAY YOUTH. SINCE ITS INCEPTION WE HAVE SERVED MORE THAN 7,500 YOUNG PEOPLE, GIVING AWAY THOUSANDS OF SELF-ESTEEM BOOSTING NEW CLOTHING AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS. THE TAY SHOP SPACE HAS EVELOVED INTO A COLLABORATIVE HUB WHERE ORGANIZATIOONS WHO SERVE THIS POPULATION CAN CONNECT AND GATHER TO IMPROVE THE OUTSCOMES FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY EXIT THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
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 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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 May 2006.
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 October 21, 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.