The Cypress Initiative Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE HUMAN POTENTIAL RESILIENCY LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY THROUGH EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, AND PROGRAMMING CENTERED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MIND THAT SPARKS INNATE MENTAL HEALTH.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $120,363, ceo
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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 70% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 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
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
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, 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)
- $1.1 million spent. THE SPARK INITIATIVE, INC. IS DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH YOUTH AT-RISK, SEX TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS, AND INCARCERATED JUVENILES, MILITARY VETERANS, AND ADULT WOMEN. THE SPARK INITIATIVE PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND MENTORING SERVICES THROUGH THEIR SELF-DEVELOPED SPARK MENTORING AND INSIGHT TO WELL-BEING CURRICULUM. GLOBALLY, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO TRAINS OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO DO THE SAME THORUGH THE USE OF THEIR PROGRAMS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO UNCOVER HUMAN POTENTIAL AND RESILIENCE, SPARK INNATE MENTAL HEALTH, AND PROMOTE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTEDNESS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD. THE ORGANIZAAITON ALSO WORKS TO ENCOURAGE, ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND PARTICIPATE IN COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS. THE SPARK INITIATIVE, INC. IS DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH YOUTH AT-RISK, SEX TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS, AND INCARCERATED JUVENILES, MILITARY VETERANS, AND ADULT WOMEN. THE SPARK INITIATIVE PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND MENTORING SERVICES THROUGH THEIR SELF-DEVELOPED SPARK MENTORING AND INSIGHT TO WELL-BEING CURRICULUM. GLOBALLY, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO TRAINS OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO DO THE SAME THORUGH THE USE OF THEIR PROGRAMS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO UNCOVER HUMAN POTENTIAL AND RESILIENCE, SPARK INNATE MENTAL HEALTH, AND PROMOTE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTEDNESS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD. THE ORGANIZAAITON ALSO WORKS TO ENCOURAGE, ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND PARTICIPATE IN COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS.
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 July 2007.
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.