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Project Lift Inc

EIN 27-3949112 · Hobe Sound, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROJECT LIFT IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF AT-RISK TEENS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, MENTORING AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
55
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$193,882, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
  1. $5.5 million spent. PROJECT LIFT PROVIDES THERAPY THROUGH THE UNIQUE PLATFORM OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING. AT NO COST, AT-RISK 14-25-YEAR-OLD MEN AND WOMEN ENGAGE IN HANDS ON TRAINING IN SKILLED TRADES WHILE LICENSED THERAPISTS PROVIDE EVIDENCE BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATEMENT. THIS STRATEGY, WHICH WE CALL "THERAPY UNDER THE HOOD OF A CAR" FEATURES SKILLED INSTRUCTORS IN AUTO REPAIR, WELDING, CARPENTRY & CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRICAL, AND MORE! THIS APPRENTICE STYLE PAID TRAINING IN THE SKILLED TRADES USING INDUSTRY STANDARD EQUIPMENT HAS ATTRACTED LOCAL EMPLOYERS WHO USE VOLUNTEERS TO TRAIN AND SEEK OUT PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, ALLOWING FOR JOB PLACEMENT AND A VIABLE PATH TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. TEENS ARE REFERRED BY THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, PROBATION OFFICERS, SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. PROJECT LIFT'S TREATMENT STRATEGY HAS PROVEN MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WITH ADOLECENTS THAN STANDARD COUNSELING, RESULTING IN HOPEFUL, SOBER, EMPLOYABLE, AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENTS. MORE THAN 5,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAM ACROSS 3 COUNTIES. BY REMOVING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND EMPOWERING TEENS TO CULTIVATE THE DIGNITY THAT RESULTS FORM MASTERING A SKILLED TRADE, WE CAN FOSTER SUCCESS. JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION, AND WE HAVE DEVELOPED STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO HIRE OUR PROGRAM GRADUATES. EACH DAY OF PROGRAMMING ENDS WITH A FAMILY STYLE MEAL, WHERE YOUTH GATHER TO EAT ALONGSIDE STAFF AND MENTORS. THIS IS PIVOTAL, AS IT DEVELOPS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, RESPECT, AND BELONGING. MANY OF THE TEENS WE SERVE DO NOT EXPERIENCE THIS SIMPLE, YET MEANINGFUL RITUAL AT HOME, AND IT HELPS TO CREATE A FOUNDATION OF TRUST THAT BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS TO ENGAGING FULLY IN TREATMENT. A SEPERATE BOYS PROGRAM AND GIRLS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM ARE OFFERED, AS WELL AS A DAY PROGRAM FOR YOUNG ADULTS. PARTICIPANTS ARE PAID A STIPEND FOR THE WORK THEY DO, AS LONG AS THEY TEST CLEAN FOR DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. RANDOM URINE DRUG TESTING IS CONDUCTED FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS WEEKLY. INCENTIVE PAY PLACES VALUE ON THEIR HARD WORK AND CREATES ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE TO STAY CLEAN AND MOTIVATED.COMMUNITY SERVICE IS A CORNERSTONE OF OUR PROGRAMMING. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING AND GIVING AWAY MORE THAN 165 CARS TO NEEDY FAMILIES. IN THE EVOLUTION OF BEHAVIOR, TEENS MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM BEING TAKERS TO GIVERS, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEEPER MORAL REASONING. ADDITIONALLY, OUR ON-SITE PATHWAY ACADEMY OF INNOVATION OFFERS YOUTH WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OR ARE STRUGGLING TO GRADUATE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN AN ACCREDITED HIGH SCHOOL DIPOLOMA WHILE LEARNING A TRADE.

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

  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 June 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 May 2011.

    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.