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Heroes Project

EIN 27-1288926 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO REHABILITATE VETERANS OF THE U.S. MILITARY WHO WERE WOUNDED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, TO ADVOCATE VETERAN REHABILITATION AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON VETERAN REHABILITATION.

Income
$285,068
Spending
$989,398
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
18.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$697,799, director

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 247% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $863,186 spent. THE ORGANIZATION'S MAIN PROGRAM IS TO AID WOUNDED VETERANS IN CLIMBING SOME OF THE WORLD'S TALLEST MOUNTAIN PEAKS. PRIOR TO 2020, TWO SPECIFIC PROGRAMS WERE IN PLACE - OPERATION 7 SUMMITS AND OPERATION 7 VOLCANOES. OPERATION 7 SUMMITS STARTED IN THE SUMMER OF 2010 CLIMBING MT. DENALI IN ALASKA. THE MOST RECENT MISSION FOR OPERATION 7 SUMMITS WAS THE CARSENSZ PYRAMID IN OCTOBER 2017. OPERATION 7 VOLCANOES STARTED IN 2015 AND THE TWO MOST RECENT MISSIONS FOR OPERTATION 7 VOLCANOES WERE OJOS DEL SALADO IN ARGENTINA IN MARCH 2018 AND MT. ELBRUS IN RUSSIA IN OCTOBER 2019.DUE TO THE WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC, THESE CLIMBING PROGRAMS WERE SUSPENDED. IN THEIR PLACE, THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS AN ANNUAL EVENT AT MT. BALDY -- CLIMB FOR HEROES. THE CLIMB FOR HEROES PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTERS AND VETERANS CLIMB THE SUMMIT OF MT. BALDY TOGETHER. THIS EVENT IS HELD ON VETERANS DAY WEEKEND ANNUALLY. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION IS DONE FOR THE GUIDES WORKING WITH THE VETERANS. THE OTHER MAJOR PROGRAM IS THE BUILDING OF A VETERAN RETREAT CENTER ("VRC") AT THE BASE OF MT. BALDY TO PROVIDE A TRAINING GROUND FOR THE VETERANS. AN OFFICIAL GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY TOOK PLACE ON JULY 4, 2023, AND CONSTRUCTION ON THE VRC WILL CONTINUE OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHEN THE VRC CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED, ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS ARE BEING LAUNCHED. THE PLANNING PHASE FOR THESE FUTURE PROGRAMS IS UNDER WAY WHILE THE VRC IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

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

  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 2024.

    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 February 2010.

    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.