Long Beach Blast - Better Learning for All Students Today
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To improve academic and personal success for at-promise youth through collaboration and innovative approaches to mentoring and learning.
- Income
- $924,175
- Spending
- $739,261
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 11.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 13
- Volunteers
- 170
- Highest pay
- $135,671, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 August 31, 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 (3)
- $243,509 spent. The Bridge to Success Program partners with six schools across LBUSD, utilizing a curriculum that is based on the learning needs for middle and high school students who have not been successful in a traditional classroom setting, are credit deficient, and are at-risk for dropping out. The program focuses on student's learning in academic subjects, financial literacy, social skill building, college and career preparation, and goal setting. 564 students were served through this program, providing 2,662 1:1 mentoring hours to students.
- $191,894 spent. The Academic Mentoring Program recruited, screened, trained, placed, and supported 111 college student volunteers in existing in-school and after school programs to provide 1:1 and small group mentoring to children and young adults in grades K-12. The volunteers tutor, provide homework assistance and high-quality lesson plans, and engage their students in planned enrichment activities. 2,714 Mentoring hours were provided to student across four LBUSD sites.
- $83,469 spent. The Ready to Rise Program provides academic, career, and personal development support to at-promise youth who face barriers to school success, including credit deficiency, homelessness, gang pressure, lack of parental involvement, and exposure to violence. The program supports students through credit recovery, workforce development training, leadership development, college preparedness workshops, career exploration, and mentoring. Ready to Rise is designed to help students stay engaged in school, build positive relationships with caring adults, develop life and social skills, prepare for graduation, and pursue post-secondary education or career pathways.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.