Inspiring Minds
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENGAGE INSPIRE AND EMPOWER YOUTH TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH EDUCATION AND EXPOSURE TO LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 84
- Volunteers
- 61
- Highest pay
- $195,872, 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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $1.6 million spent. After school program to inspire youth to reach their full potential through education and real-life experiences. During the 2023-24 school year, 54 high school students, 40 7-8 graders and 120 3-6 graders benefitted from the program.Students in grades 3-12 participate in out-of-school learning focusing on: Education; College & Career Readiness; Health & Wellness, Personal Development; & Exposure to New Experiences. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, high school students are able to participate from acceptance until graduation or if they choose not to continue.Education support improves academic performance, focuses on STEM concepts, reading & comprehension, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, homework completion & tutoring.College & Career Readiness activities include visits to colleges across the country, assistance with applications & scholarships, ACT/SAT prep & FAFSA completion. IM provides professional development & job training through resume building, mock interviews, proper dress etiquette & industry exploration tours.IM promotes Health & Wellness as youth learn about the benefits of leading a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle through physical fitness, nutrition & personal hygiene. Youth participate in physical activities to reduce obesity & improve self-esteem. Youth also learn about gardening & cooking in our onsite garden and training kitchen.Personal Development activities include service-learning projects to developing skills, attitudes & personal qualities that enable students to effectively navigate their environment, work well with others, perform well & achieve their goals.Exposure to New Experiences is designed to demonstrate to students how their dreams can take them anywhere. IM coordinates trips to provide new, eye-opening experiences that embrace culture, arts, hobbies, & interests to expose students to different ways of life & possibilities so they know what is available to them in the future if they set goals, work hard & persevere.To provide ongoing support to recent high school grads & young adults ages 17-25, IM provides Summer Career Development Program, an immersive workforce learning experience for young adults & to retain talent for the area.At the completion of the 2023-24 school year, all students promoted to the next grade level or graduated.To make certain that students are on track, IM programming includes: monitoring academic performance, offering tutoring/interventions for students struggling in one or more subjects, and taking students on college and college-related visits to ignite excitement for their future.During the 2023-24 school year, 200 hours of tutoring has been provided to 25 HS students in the subjects of English, history, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, chemistry, physics, and general science. During the after-school program students use ProgressBook, a classroom management solution that integrates grade book, lesson plan development, attendance, special education, and parent communication into one comprehensive, web-based system, to review their GPA, assignments and attendance which is then checked by IM staff. Any student with grades of D or F are flagged to receive tutoring. IM mentors also reinforce with the students the concept of staying on target with academics. IM staff has built a relationship with Warren G. Harding High School and is able to participate in students Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings along with parents to help make sure that students succeed. IM also encourages parents to participate in parent-teacher conferences.In 2024 our college-going seniors completed FAFSA, ACT/SAT testing, college applications, and scholarship applications as part of their post-high school preparations. Students have toured Kent State University, Thiel College and The University of Akron. Students also went on industry tours to: Vaxxen Labs, XPO Transportation, Goodwill, Anderson Dubose, and DeSalvo Construction. For fun rewards, students got to go to a YSU Basketball game, bowling, and skating.This program was also supported during the year by in kind donations of services including classroom use valued at $49,600; transportation services to bring students to the program each day and back home that is valued at $40,100, and training services valued at $3,000, videography services valued at $5,000, Advertising services valued at $2,500 and other services valued at $16,636.
- $544,934 spent. Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) to provide Warren, Ohio, students with a robust educational experience and an opportunity to participate in sports activities, art exploration, community service, swimming lessons, STEM disciplines, and literacy workshops. In 2024, 50 9-12 graders, 45 7-8 graders, and 180 3-6 graders.The 2024 SEP offered 275 students a robust educational experience. Elementary students participated in: daily health & fitness instruction, a review of the IM Code, which is a set of guidelines to follow to be successful & productive; swimming lessons; arts, culture & music activities; computer labs; board games; college/career readiness research; movies & bowling; different sports; learned about Black inventors; and had all-site competitions with a & track/race day.High school students took a trip to New Orleans. and visited LSU, Piney Wood boarding school, and took a Knowla Tour, to name a few highlights. The summer included financial literacy, physical fitness, an hour of reading to prevent summer learning, and art. College visits included: Penn State University and LSU.One of the highlights of the summer was the culmination of entrepreneurial lessons when IM held its 3rd Annual outdoor Youth Summer Market in which students showcased their businesses and sold their foods and products. It was well received by the community and students thoroughly enjoyed learning about financial literacy and how to run a business.This program was also supported during the year by in kind donations of services including classroom use valued at $9,600 and transportation services to bring students to the program each day and back home, as well as, field trips that is valued at $40,000.
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 February 2011.
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.