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Soar for Youth

EIN 26-4425202 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

In community partnership with UC Berkeley, SOAR helps Bay Area foster youth aged 11-21 move through adolescence and into their adult lives with independence. We teach, coach, and counsel our young people in academics, leadership, life skills, and emotional intelligence. We provide them with activities that build trust, promote teamwork, and enhance self-esteem. The SOAR program aims to help our young people graduate from high school, attend college, and succeed in life with purpose.

Income
$717,410
Spending
$628,533
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
33.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
3
Volunteers
0

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 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $275,657 spent. Summer Precollegiate Academics: In 2025 SOAR hosted five one-week residential Summer Academies on the UC Berkeley campus (Prepare To SOAR, Learn To SOAR, Time To SOAR, SOAR To College, and SOAR to Vocation). We selected a new cohort of 15 middle schooler to attend the Prepare To SOAR Academy and welcomed our program alumni to attend the SOAR To Vocation Academy which was launched in 2024 to provide opportunities and exposure to our youths who may not find themselves on a path to college degree. We adjusted our program offerings to match our youth's learning abilities. Several youths were not able to return to attend their Learn To SOAR or Time To SOAR Academies due to relocation, summer school, and personal reasons. So we were elated when three students who had not attended their Summer Academies for the last two or three years returned to attend their final Academy - SOAR To Your Future (Week one is SOAR To College and Week two SOAR To Vocation).All Academy participates (100%) said they would recommend SOAR to other foster youth. All of them also said that the knowledge and experience they gained at SOAR will help them achieve greater academic success and build their future.Forty Nine (49) foster youths (including Jr. Counselors) benefited from the life-changing Summer Pre-collegiate Academies we offered in 2025.
  2. $57,272 spent. School Year Academic Support (Foster Youth Academic Support): Our Academic Advocates are trained and supported to help their advisees stay on track academically and work through personal and emotional challenges. The individualized advocacy for each youth includes weekly grade checks, monthly school visits, tutoring, regular group outings with other SOAR youths and Advocates, and college plus scholarship application assistance. 82% of our youths graduated from high school on time in 2025; we expected 80%.Cumulatively, 98% of our youths graduated from high school and 86% have gone on to college in comparison to the national average of 50% and 10% respectively. 68% of SOAR 4-year college students have graduated, compared to the national average of 3-4% of foster youth attending all colleges.
  3. $71,189 spent. Summer Internship Program: 12 SOAR high achievers worked as summer interns for 6-8 weeks in various Bay Area locations. The employers, selected to honor these youths' passion and career goals, included: Buchanan Dentist, Delta Humane Society Stockton, Holistic Hyperbaric Clinic, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, Walsh Vineyards.In summary, with uncompromising support from SOAR 126 foster youths learned, grew, and thrived during the tax reporting period (January 1-December 31, 2025). SOAR is grateful for the tremendous financial and volunteer support that helped make it all happen.

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 November 6, 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 June 2009.

    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 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.