Highsteppers Drill Team Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Form 990, Part I, Line 1.
- Income
- $302,799
- Spending
- $299,995
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $53,800, president
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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $150,361 spent. The drill team program serves approximately 55 young people ages 3-17 per year over fall, spring, and summer semesters, utilizing military drill technique, step, and dance routines as an access point for creative youth development. Specifically, the program nurtures youths through skill-building, inquiry, and expression, helping them cultivate healthy relationships with their peers and build social and emotional resiliencies. Youths are supported as they work together towards performing in competitions and public performances throughout the year. Competitions include the Sharp Knott's Berry Farm Cheer, Dance, and Drill State Championship, and the National Football, Cheer, and Step competition in Orlando, FL. The drill team also contributes to the arts and culture of the community by performing in local festivals and parades, including the MLK, Jr. Parade, Veterans Day Parade, Port of San Diego Holiday Bowl Parade & Halftime Show, Juneteenth Celebration & Festival, San Diego Annual Cultural Faire, Chula Vista Parade, and the Kuumba Festival, which events garner audiences of 3,000-20,000 people. The organization regularly assesses the success of its program by collecting testimonials from program participants. Through anecdotal testimonials, program participants have shown increased engagement in school and their ability to strive for excellence. The organization also utilizes the Holistic Student Assessment - a data driven, self-report tool created by Harvard University and McLean Hospital - to aid the organization in evaluating social-emotional development in youths in order to better support them through direct programming. The tool measures: resiliencies emotional control, trust, empathy, learning and school engagement learning interest, critical thinking, and relationships with peers and adults.
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
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on November 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.
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 June 2025.
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 April 2018.
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.