Project S E R V E
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 FOSTER AND GENERATE INNOVATIONS THAT AID AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS VETERANS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSDERS LIVING WITH INJURIES AND DISABLING CONDISTIONS WHOSE LIVES CAN BE IMPROVED WITH SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED BY ENGINEERING STUDENTS AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
- Income
- $387,120
- Spending
- $816,097
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 23.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 129
- Highest pay
- $145,054, exec dir/sec (resigned may-25)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 23.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 111% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1560% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 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 June 30, 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)
- $493,485 spent. Project S.E.R.V.E. (Student Engineering for Resilience of Veterans and Emergency Responders) identifies and engages veterans and emergency responders living with injuries or disabling conditions who agree to be served by the organizations program. These individuals are paired with multidisciplinary engineering student teams at partner colleges and universities through formal collaboration agreements, and participate as design partners. Each team is supported by a university faculty advisor and a Project S.E.R.V.E. program manager, who together guide a human-centered design and development process. These projects are embedded within senior engineering capstone courses and typically span an academic year, providing students with rigorous, real-world design experience while delivering customized adaptive solutions to those we serve.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 September 2009.
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.