Santa Cruz Breakers Academy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- 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
TO PROVIDE STUDENT-ATHLETES WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THEIR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND HEALTHY LIFE CHOICES THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE US SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY PROGRAM AND THE USLPDL. ITS ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE STUDENT-ATHLETES TO THE NEXT LEVEL: COLLEGE SOCCER, NATIONAL TEAMS, MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -7.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $150,000, executive 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
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 1123% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
0 of 252 of 2 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $1.2 million spent. BREAKERS FC IS BASED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & PARTICIPATES IN THE MLS NEXT PROGRAM & THE X2 LEAGUE. THE MLS NEXT PROGRAM IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SOCCER IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & CANADA. THE X2 LEAGUE IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SOCCER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & IT IS A SECOND TIER LEVEL FOR ONLY THOSE CLUBS, LIKE BREAKERS FC, THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE MLS NEXT PROGRAM.BREAKERS FC IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS, MLS NEXT & X2, AND PROVIDES THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SOCCER FOR U11-U19 BOYS. NEARLY 200 PLAYERS PLAYING U11-U19 PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM. WE HAVE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL COACHES WITH USSF & UEFA COACHING LICENSES, AS REQUIRED BY THE MLS NEXT ORGANIZATION, GOVERNED BY THE MLS.THE MLS NEXT TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO TRAVEL TO OTHER STATES IN THE US AND ALSO TO CANADA, IN ORDER TO COMPETE IN THE MLS NEXT PROGRAM. OUR PLAYERS ARE SCOUTED BY USSF SCOUTS, MLS CLUBS' SCOUTS, USL CLUBS' SCOUTS, LIGA MX SCOUTS, EUROPEAN SCOUTS & US COLLEGE & UNIVERSITIES SCOUTS. MOST OF OUR PLAYERS PROGRESS ON TO PLAY IN COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES, MANY WITH SOCCER SCHOLARSHIPS. SOME OF OUR PLAYERS ALSO HAVE PROGRESSED ON TO PROFESSIONAL CLUBS, LIKE THE SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES OR MONTEREY BAY FC.
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
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 December 2024.
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 May 2010.
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.
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.