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Fostering Great Ideas

EIN 27-4622960 · Greenville, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

Income
$934,367
Spending
$823,129
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
13.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
15
Volunteers
130
Highest pay
$63,372, ceo

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 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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 (3)
  1. $169,420 spent. SIB-LINK: WHEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES, SIBLINGS IN FOSTER CARE ARE OFTEN SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER. SIBLING BONDS, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE KIDS WHO HAVE FACED TRAUMA, ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BONDS IN THEIR LIVES. SIB-LINK EXISTS TO KEEP THIS CONNECTION STRONG AND REDUCE FURTHER TRAUMA BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL REGULAR VISITS FOR THESE CHILDREN.
  2. $104,648 spent. SPEAK UP: SPEAK UP IS A GROUP OF PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS ADVOCATING TO IMPROVE FOSTER CARE POLICY. IN MANY WAYS, SPEAK UP IS OUR POLICY ARM MADE OF REGULAR CITIZENS HIGHLIGHTING COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN IMPROVE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF SPEAK UP: 1. THE MORE WE LISTEN TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, THE BETTER THE SYSTEM OF CARE WILL BE. 2. CHILDREN'S VOICES NEED TO BE AMPLIFIED. WE SHOULD PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR MORE DIALOGUE AND ACTION.THIS IS A GRASS-ROOTS EFFORT RELYING UPON MANY PEOPLE AND FOCUSING ON A FEW CONCEPTS EACH YEAR. IN ORDER TO REMAIN EFFECTIVE AND ON MISSION, WE WORK WITH SPEAK UP VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THEM COMMUNICATE AS A GROUP. WE ALSO ASK THOSE INVOLVED TO SPEND TIME GETTING TO KNOW OTHERS WHO WANT TO "SPEAK UP."
  3. $221,711 spent. ASPIRE: WHEN YOUTH AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. THEY ARE OFTEN ON THEIR OWN, LACKING FAMILY SUPPORT FOR THEIR JOURNEY. MANY STUDENTS WORK TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES, AND IF THEY ATTEND COLLEGE, THEY ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND HAVE EXCESSIVE FINANCIAL PRESSURE. THE ADDED FINANCIAL STRESS TO MAINTAIN COLLEGE HOUSING CAN ADD SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO THESE YOUTH IN COLLEGE. MANY YOUTH WILL FALL BEHIND IN THEIR ACADEMICS AND LOSE HOPE WITHOUT A CARING AND CONSISTENT ADULT TO ENCOURAGE GOAL-SETTING AND PLANNING FOR NEXT STEPS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. ASPIRE ENCOURAGES YOUTH TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN ATTEND AND EXCEL IN COLLEGE BY PROVIDING ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE. THROUGH CONSISTENT MEETINGS WITH OUR EDUCATION ADVOCATE AND PEER GATHERINGS FOCUSED ON TEAM-BUILDING, YOUTH BEGIN TO VISUALIZE A FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES. THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, APPLY TO COLLEGE PROGRAMS, AND FIND THEIR OWN PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.

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 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 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 March 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.