Back on My Feet
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BACK ON MY FEET EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE THROUGH FITNESS AND COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $4.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 1,000
- Highest pay
- $447,970, 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: 69 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
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 (1)
- $2.7 million spent. OPERATING IN 16 MAJOR CITIES COAST-TO-COAST, BACK ON MY FEET EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE THROUGH FITNESS AND COMMUNITY. WHO WE HELP: WE WORK WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR ADDICTION WHO CURRENTLY RESIDE WITHIN SHELTERS AND RECOVERY FACILITIES. HOW IT WORKS: WE RUN AND WALK 2-3 TIMES A WEEK TO BUILD A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY. WITH THE SUPPORT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, OUR MEMBERS CAN WORK TOWARD SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. SINCE LAUNCH, OVER 10,000 MEMBERS HAVE BECOME EMPLOYED AND/OR HOUSED, AND OVER 3,000 MEMBERS HAVE GONE ON TO COMPLETE FURTHER EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING PROGRAMS. ON AVERAGE, 83% OF MEMBERS ARE STILL EMPLOYED AFTER 15 MONTHS, 44% RECEIVE A WAGE INCREASE WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS, AND 21% RECEIVE A PROMOTION. EVERY $1 INVESTED IN BACK ON MY FEET RETURNS $2.50 TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH INCREASED ECONOMIC OUTPUT FROM EMPLOYMENT AND REDUCTION IN COSTS FOR SHELTER, MEDICAL SERVICES, INCARCERATION AND ADDICTION TREATMENT.
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 August 2008.
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.