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Focus Marines Foundation

EIN 27-2081900 · Ballwin, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER VETERANS TO LIVE AN ENGAGED AND FULFILLING LIFE TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY AFTER LEAVING THE MILITARY.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$903,072
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
77.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
4
Volunteers
83
Highest pay
$72,133, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 77.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 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 (3)
  1. $627,361 spent. THE FOCUS PROGRAM: THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FOCUS PROGRAM IS A SIX-DAY EVENT DESIGNED BY THE FOCUS MARINES FOUNDATION TO HELP VETERANS STRUGGLING WITH THEIR LIFE AFTER LEAVING THE MILITARY. INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FACILITATORS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN PROVIDING THE PARTICIPANTS THE TOOLS THAT ADDRESS VETERANS' ISSUES LIKE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ADDICTION, NEGATIVITY, INSOMNIA, ISOLATION, RELATIONSHIPS, SELF-DOUBT AND SUICIDE. THE PROGRAM IS HELD FOUR TIMES EACH YEAR IN AUGUSTA, MISSOURI. THERE ARE THREE BASIC COMPONENTS: I. DAY 1: BUILDING NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER VETERANS ATTENDING FOCUS. II. DAY 2-3: ADDRESSING THE QUESTION: "WHO ARE YOU AND WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?" III. DAY 4-6: ADDRESSING THE QUESTION: "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AND HOW WILL YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN?"ALL COSTS, TRANSPORTATION, ROOM, BOARD, AND MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS MARINES FOUNDATION. OVER 1,000 VETERANS HAVE ATTENDED THE FOCUS PROGRAM SINCE 2013, WITH LIFE CHANGING RESULTS. THE VETERANS CONSIST OF MARINES, NAVY CORPSMAN, SAILORS, SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN. THE AGES RANGE FROM 21-67, THE RANKS FROM PRIVATE TO COLONEL. THE FOCUS MARINES FOUNDATION HAS DEVELOPED A NATIONAL NETWORK OF EFFECTIVE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP IDENTIFY VETERANS WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THE FOCUS PROGRAM AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE VETERANS AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE FOCUS PROGRAM. THAT SUPPORT COULD INCLUDE MEDICAL, LEGAL, FINANCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL HELP. THERE IS A HIGH PRIORITY PLACED ON FOLLOW UP AND STAYING IN TOUCH WITH FOCUS GRADUATES. OVER 1,700 TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS ARE SENT EACH MONTH TO FOCUS GRADUATES INVITING THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF TWO ZOOM MEETINGS OFFERED EACH MONTH, "RE-FOCUS AND "THE BUDDY CHECK".
  2. $88,734 spent. RE-FOCUS ZOOM MEETING: THE RE-FOCUS ZOOM MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE 3RD TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 7:00 - 8:00PM CST. THE MEETING IS RUN BY NATIONALLY KNOWN FACILITATORS AND MENTORS WHO ARE GRADUATES OF THE FOCUS PROGRAM. IT COVERS TOPICS TAUGHT AT THE FOCUS PROGRAM AS WELL AS INTRODUCING NEW RELEVANT MATERIAL. FOCUS GRADUATES ARE SENT MONTHLY EMAIL AND TEXT MESSAGES INVITING THEM TO EACH RE-FOCUS ZOOM MEETING.
  3. BUDDY CHECK ZOOM MEETING: THE BUDDY CHECK ZOOM IS HELD THE 1ST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 7:00 - 8:00PM CST. THIS ZOOM MEETING HAS BECOME A FORUM FOR FOCUS GRADUATES TO DISCUSS A WIDE SET OF ISSUES FACING VETERANS. THE ISSUES DISCUSSED COULD BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. FOCUS GRADUATES ARE SENT MONTHLY EMAIL AND TEXT MESSAGES INVITING THEM TO EACH BUDDY CHECK ZOOM MEETING.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.