Brunan Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN STUDENTS AND TO CREATE A CARING AND DISCIPLINED SCHOOL CLIMATE.
- Income
- $266,175
- Spending
- $284,016
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 92%
- Employees
- 2
- Highest pay
- $50,000, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 11 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 August 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 (1)
- $223,363 spent. Heroes & Cool Kids is a school-based mentoring program that was co-founded 17 years ago by the legendary NY Jets running back, Bruce Harper. We have been impacting the lives and childhoods of students ever since. Our locallybased (NJ/NY) program combines experiential learning inspired by professional athletes with leadership development and mentoring. Our program directly impacts young lives by raising awareness about peer pressures, school violence, intolerance, unethical behaviors, as well as reducing the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and delaying the age of experimentation.In 2015, the program involved over 24,000 students, 2,800 student leaders, and 350 teen influencers (coaches, teachers, parents, faith leaders). It was a year in which we placed renewed focus on drug abuse prevention as a result of the growing heroin epidemic among young people in our area.Independent research by Fairleigh Dickinson University found that students in the program - as compared to a control group - showed significant improvement in setting goals and taking responsibility for the achievement of those goals, with 53% of students demonstrating a positive shift. Students also showed significant improvement in taking an unpopular but necessary stand. 40% of students demonstrated increased understanding of this concept, 39% displayed an increase in problem solving ability. As a nonprofit organization, H&CK maintains the highest standards of ethical leadership, fiscal integrity, transparency and cost efficiency. Our administrative cost is 18%.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 November 1999.
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.
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.