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Tigermountain Foundation

EIN 27-0806147 · Tempe, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak15 out of 100GovernanceGood89 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TigerMountain Foundation works with adults and youth who have reentered society and/or are from at-risk communities on Life Skills and Workforce Development via community gardens and edible landscaping.

Income
$470,825
Spending
$551,948
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
2
Volunteers
2,129

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

Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 146% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $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

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. TigerMountain Foundation works with adults and youth who have reentered society and/or are from at-risk communities. Our goal is to intercept them before they become involved with the justice system, but there are times we work with individuals on probation that are turning their lives around (presently we are working with 25 such individuals). These participants engage in our Life Skills and Workforce development initiatives working in community gardens, our kitchen and with landscaping. Our Personal Strategy Roadmap requirements assists with the participants setting personal and community goals to transform their lives and become involved community members. Some of our youth participants may have been involved in petty crimes or are just directionless and theyve been referred to us for mentoring, life and work skills. We do not take on any participants with a conviction for child or elder abuse. Most of the previously incarcerated individuals were for drug or gang related crimes, but they are now free from addiction and gang activity. TMF has an 85% success rate of previously incarcerated participants not returning to jail.
  2. $451,887 spent. Providing on-the-job learning experiences sessions and life skill education and mentoring to at-risk populations through supervised agri-landscaping (edible landscaping) and garden/farm work. As the landscapers learn work skills and self discipline, most of them transition to full-time jobs. Some of them are seniors who supplement their meager income by working part-time one the landscape jobs and they serve as mentors and models for the younger participants.
  3. $3,419 spent. Hosting community garden demonstrations and volunteer opportunities every 2nd and 4th Saturdays, open to all. Harvested vegetables are offered for donations. Volunteers and student interns work in the garden alongside TigerMountain clients in teams supervised by TigerMountain staff members.

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 August 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 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.