Sober Founders Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Sober Founders supports entrepreneurs and professionals in recovery from substance use disorders through structured peer groups, recovery-informed education, and community programming that strengthens long-term sobriety, ethical leadership, and sustainable livelihoods.
- Income
- $57,955
- Spending
- $21,730
- Reserves
- 20 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Highest pay
- $4,550, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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)
- $11,000 spent. BUSINESS MASTERMIND PEER GROUPS: Sober Founders operates two free peer mastermind groups for entrepreneurs in recovery from substance use disorders. These groups serve entrepreneurs at different stages of business growth while maintaining a shared commitment to recovery filling a gap for people who are simultaneously navigating the demands of entrepreneurship and the disciplines of personal recovery. The first group is open to any entrepreneur in recovery regardless of business stage and grew to over 210 members in its first year. The second group serves more established entrepreneurs with additional criteria around revenue sobriety requirements and familiarity with 12-step principles and reached 60 members in its first year. Both groups follow a structured facilitation format where members share business challenges discuss how recovery principles apply to leadership and receive honest feedback from peers with shared lived experience. Combined these groups served over 270 active participants in their first year while the organization's broader social media community grew to thousands of followers demonstrating strong and growing demand for this type of programming.
- $5,500 spent. PHOENIX FORUM: Phoenix Forum is an executive-level peer advisory program for established entrepreneurs and business owners in long-term recovery from substance abuse. Think of it as the recovery community's answer to peer advisory networks like EO. High-performing professionals in recovery rarely have access to peers who understand what it means to lead a company while protecting their sobriety and Phoenix Forum was built specifically to fill that gap. Members meet in structured confidential sessions to collaborate on real business challenges while holding each other accountable to their recovery goals. Participation requires demonstrated business leadership experience and an active commitment to recovery ensuring every member is a true peer who understands the pressures in the room. Members have credited the relationships and accountability built inside the program with strengthening both their business performance and their commitment to recovery.
- $3,000 spent. SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING: Sober Founders provided supplemental educational and community building programming to support entrepreneurs in recovery between formal group meetings. Activities during the year included topical webinars addressing practical business and recovery topics such as health insurance access for self employed professionals, regularly scheduled facilitated book discussions with titles selected to bridge business growth and personal recovery, and an in person member gathering that brought members together face to face for the first time. An active WhatsApp community of over 180 members provides ongoing peer connection and resource sharing between meetings with regional subgroups extending reach across state lines. These activities collectively supported hundreds of entrepreneurs in recovery by providing consistent access to peer community relevant information and practical guidance.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 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 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 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 May 2025.
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.