Society for Financial Awareness
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
END FINANCIAL ILLITERACY; EMBOLDEN PEOPLE TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR FINANCIAL LIVES; GET AMERICANS TO EMBRACE THE FINANCIAL CONCEPT OF "DOING BETTER"...KNOWING MORE, AND MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS WITH THEIR MONEY.
- Income
- $426,670
- Spending
- $402,731
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 63.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $108,489, coo
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 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 63.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs.
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: 21 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
0 of 252 of 2 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 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 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)
- $352,075 spent. THE SOCIETY FOR FINANCIAL AWARENESS33-0700097STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTSOBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES: THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES OF THIS CORPORATION SHALL BE:A. TO ESTABLISH A SPEAKERS BUREAU THAT WILL PROVIDE KNOWLEDGEABLE PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS (FINANCIAL PLANNERS, ACCOUNTANTS, TRUST OFFICERS AND ATTORNEYS) WHO WILL DONATE THEIR TIME AND SERVICE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.B. TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS THROUGH AREA CHURCHES, TEMPLES AND SYNAGOGUES WHEREBY VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ENLISTED TO WORK WITH VARIOUS GROUPS OF THE CHURCH (SENIOR CITIZENS, YOUNG COUPLES, ETC.) TO ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR FINANCIAL CONCERNS.C. TO ASSIST SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS IN THE COMMUNITY IN CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS FOR THEIR MEMBERS IN LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE CONCERNS.D. TO CONDUCT SEMINARS AND PREPARE AND DISSEMINATE PUBLICATIONS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT ASSET ALLOCATION, CASH MANAGEMENT, RETIREMENT PLANNING, INVESTMENT PLANNING AND ESTEATE PLANNING.E. TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION NECESSARY TO PREPARE AND FILE THEIR OWN FEDERAL AND STATE TAX RETURNS EACH YEAR.THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, THE SOCIETY FOR FINANCIAL AWARENESS (SOFA) HAS BEEN HELPING INDIVIDUALS ACQUIRE FINANCIAL EDUCATION TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN PLANNING FOR THEIR FUTURE. THROUGH THESE EFFORTSS, SOFA HAS HELPED PEOPLE BECOME AWARE OF RISK MANAGEMENT, INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND TAX SAVINGS. EACH WORKSHOP IS CUSTOMIZED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN IDENTIFYING AND QUALIFYING HIS OR HER PERSONAL AND FAMILY FINANCIAL PLANNING NEEDS. ALL SOFA EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE TO CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1996.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.