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Roots & Wings Foundation a New Jersey Non Profit Corporation

EIN 22-3683539 · Denville, NJ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE SAFE HOUSING, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, LIFE SKILLS, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE; EMPOWERING THEM TO RISE TOWARD THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
22.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
7
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$181,739, executive director

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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (2)
  1. $550,166 spent. YOUTH SUPPORT:WE MAKE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN EACH YOUNG ADULT TO ALLOW THEM THE TIME AND SUPPORT TO BUILD THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AND SOCIAL MATURITY THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. THE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF SERVE AS A SAFETY NET, PROTECTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE RISKS FORMER FOSTER YOUTH FACE WHEN LEFT WITHOUT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DETAIL)MONTHLY LIFE SKILLS SEMINARS WERE CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT 2025 FOR THE RISE CLIENTS. IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS ARE LED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INDUSTRY EXPERTS, AND/OR STAFF. WE HAVE COVERED TOPICS SUCH AS FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILLS, CREATING VISION BOARDS, BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, UNDERSTANDING CONSENT, A CAREER PANEL PRESENTATION, AND COOKING CLASSES.EDUCATION CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR FOCUS OF OUR WORK. OUR RISE CLIENTS ARE EITHER PURSUING OR FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION OR ACQUIRING CAREER AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS THROUGH A VARIETY OF SCHOOLS OR TRAINING PROGRAMS. IN 2025, ROOTS AND WINGS CLIENTS WERE ENROLLED AT MEDICAL ASSISTANT TRAINING - UNION COUNTY, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY, CALDWELL COLLEGE, SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY, NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS, ACE HEALTHCARE, UNION COUNTY COLLEGE, AND LINCOLN TECH. IN 2025, FOUR PROGRAM MEMBERS GRADUATED FROM CALDWELL COLLEGE, SOUTHERN NEW HAMSPHIRE UNIVERSITY, LINCOLN TECH, AND ACE HEALTHCARE TRAINING.
  2. $247,313 spent. YOUTH HOUSING:THE RISE (RESIDENTIAL INDEPENDENCE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND EDUCATION) RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PROVIDES YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE AGED OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WITH A STABLE ENVIRONMENT SO THAT THEY CAN PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION WITH FULL CONCENTRATION. THE FLY PROGRAM, THE POST-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CONTINUED SUPPORT TO RISE GRADUATES AS THEY TRANSITION INTO INDEPENDENT LIVING, WAS LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2025 AND SERVED 6 INDIVIDUALS IN 2025. THE FLY PROGRAM PROVIDES RISE ALUMNI WITH CONTINUED ACCESS TO OUR OFFICE FOOD PANTRY, REFERRALS, CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUNDING. FLY OFFERS PROGRAM-SPECIFIC CURRICULUM WITH LIFE SKILL GROUPS AND SOCIAL EVENTS DESIGNATED SPECIFICALLY FOR ALUMNI.

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

  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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

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

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2000.

    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 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.