Erik Hite Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE A SUPPORTING NETWORK BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, WELLNESS, AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. WE STRIVE TO ALLEVIATE THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THEY FACE, ENSURING THEY THRIVE BOTH AT WORK AND AT HOME.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $962,140
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 11.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 140
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
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 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
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
- $646,647 spent. THE FOUNDATION OPENED ITS CHILDCARE FACILITY IN 2011 AND OFFERS FLEXIBLE HOURS DURING THE WEEK FOR CHILDREN SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE AND AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THOSE AGES FIVE TO TWELVE. THE CENTER IS A SECURED FACILITY WITH SAFETY CODED DOORS AND CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. THE CENTER HAS FULL TIME, PART TIME AND DROP IN SERVICES. THE FOUNDATION FOLLOWS GODLY PRINCIPLES AND STRIVES FOR EXCELLENCE OF CARE FOR THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS AND ACTIVE MILITARY EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE AND PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY. THE FOUNDATION HAS SERVED OVER 7,208 FAMILIES FROM 27 DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, FIREFIGHTERS STATIONS AND MILITARY BRANCHES. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE FLEXIBLE HOURS THAT THESE EMPLOYEES NEED FOR DIFFERENT SHIFT WORK AND HAVE KEPT THE PROGRAM AFFORDABLE. THE CENTER IS OPEN NEARLY ALL HOLIDAYS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025, MORE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN ENRICHING THE OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS BY ADDING OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT FOR PLAY ENRICHMENT. ADDITIONAL FOCUS WAS PLACED ON THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF AND TEACHERS THROUGH A SERIES COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE PROGRAMS, SAZAEYC CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITY, TRAINING AND ENCOURAGING THE PURSUIT OF STUDIES IN ECE. THE FOUNDATION IS CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON THE RETENTION OF EXPERIENCED AND CARING TEACHER TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED.
- $120,897 spent. IN MAY 2016, THE ERIK HITE FOUNDATION OPENED ITS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR SUMMER CAMPS. THE SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO REIMBURSE THE FIRST RESPONDERS' FAMILIES FOR REGISTRATION FEES PAID FOR SUMMER CAMP ATTENDANCE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. FAMILIES SENDING TWO OR MORE CHILDREN TO SUMMER CAMP WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY CONSIDERATION. QUALIFYING AGES FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP ARE CHILDREN 5 TO 18 YEARS OLD. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF EXPENSIVE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS AND TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN ACTIVE DURING A LONG SUMMER VACATION WHILE THEIR PARENTS CONCENTRATE ON WORK. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 WE WERE ABLE TO GRANT CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS TO 27 CHILDREN DISTRIBUTING $12,500. IN APRIL 2016, THE ERIK HITE FOUNDATION RE-OPENED ITS WORKSHOP PROGRAM. OUR GOALS WITH THESE PROGRAMS ARE TO SUPPORT EDUCATION, WELLNESS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDED THE ERIK HITE FOUNDATION LENDING SUPPORT TO THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST SOUTHERN ARIZONA FIRST RESPONDER HEALTH & WELLNESS DAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT. SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN EXPANDING OUR OUTREACH AND SUPPORT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF OUR DONORS AND WITH THE HELP OF PROFESSIONALS, WE DEMONSTRATE HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES, ACCOMPLISH THEIR FAMILY GOALS AND WHERE TO FIND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. WITH THE SHIFT IN PUBLIC SENTIMENT TOWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT WE ARE ALSO NOW SPONSORING A SPOUSES SUPPORT GROUP IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER OUTREACH PROGRAMS WE HAVE OFFERED IN THE PAST. WHILE THESE PROGRAMS ARE LESS VISIBLE, THEY MAY WELL BE MORE VALUABLE TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. DURING FISCAL 2021-2022, OUR SPOUSE SUPPORT GROUP REALLY HIT ITS STRIDE, THANKS IN PART TO DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 45 FIRST RESPONDER SPOUSES ATTENDING REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE FIGHTERS. BY FISCAL YEAR END 2024-2025 OUR SPOUSE SUPPORT GROUPS HAD SERVED NEARLY 500 FAMILIES, WITH A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF NEARLY $32,000 FROM THE FOUNDATION. A CONTINUING PROGRAM OFFERED IN 2025 IS OUR LOVE AND LOGIC PARENTING CLASSES. THIS CLASS WAS OFFERED 3 TIMES IN 2025 AND SERVED 11 FAMILES AT A COST OF $400. MORE CLASSES ARE PLANNED TO BE SCHEDULED FOR 2026. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 WE PLACED ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT BEHIND A MEALS PROGRAM OFFERED TO TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS, FUNDED BY A COMMUNITY DONOR. WITH THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM, OFFICERS CAN PURCHASE DISCOUNTED GIFT CERTIFICATES AT SEVERAL HEALTHY FOOD PLACES IN TUCSON. THE AIM IS TO OFFER THE BEST CHOICES FOR FOOD ON THE GO, WITHOUT IT BEING UNHEALTHY FAST FOOD BURGERS OR GREASY TACOS. DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM CLOSE TO 200 GIFT CARDS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY TPD OFFICERS CHOOSING TO MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH THROUGH BETTER FOOD CHOICES. WE ALSO INITIATED OUR FIRST EVER YOUTH WELLNESS RETREAT FOR TEEN AND TWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS. DURING THIS FULL DAY EVENT WE HOSTED MORE THAN 50 KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS FOR TOPICS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REST AND NUTRITION, CYBER SECURITY, COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND OTHER TOPICS. THERE WERE 10 $500 WELLNESS SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN OUT AND EACH CHILD LEFT WITH A BACKPACK CARRYING NECESSARY SCHOOL SUPPLIES. SEEING A NEED FOR AN EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HELP WITH UNEXPECTED AND UNCOVERED LIFE EMERGENCIES A NEW PROGRAM WAS PLANNED. THE ERIK HITE FOUNDATION PURSUED AND RECEIVED SEED FUNDING IN MAY OF 2025. MECHANICS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE BEING WORKED ON CURRENTLY.
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 October 13, 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 March 2011.
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 October 21, 2026.
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