Courage Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, RECOVERY-FOCUSED SETTING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ON THEIR RECOVERY JOURNEY.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 48%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $135,200, executive director
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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 119% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1548% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 (3)
- $407,977 spent. THE COURAGE CENTER (TCC), PROVIDES A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE RECOVERY FOCUSED SETTING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ON THEIR JOURNEY IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS BY HOLDING RECOVERY FOCUSED MEETINGS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE MIDLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. TCC OFFERS WEEKLY MUTUAL AID MEETINGS, ONE ON ONE RECOVERY COACHING, ACCESS TO COUNSELORS, AND HARM REDUCTION ACTIVITIES. TCC SERVED 1,686 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024, AN 186% INCREASE OVER 2023. GROWTH WAS SEEN ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS AND LOCATIONS.
- $235,473 spent. TCC EXPANDED TO TWO NEW GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS BY OPENING OFFICES IN BOTH RICHLAND AND ORANGEBURG COUNTIES. IN ADDITION, TCC EXPANDED REFERRAL PARTNERSHIPS IN BOTH OF THESE COUNTIES BY CONNECTING TO NEW REFERRAL PARTNERSHIPS SUCH AS CRIMINAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS FOCUSED ON SERVING THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY, AND LOCAL AREA HOSPITALS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS TCC CONNECTED WITH 381 PARTICIPANT[ANTS WHO WERE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVED. AS PART OF THE OUTREACH TO THESE COMMUNITIES TCC PARTICIPATED IN 76 OUTREACH EVENTS, 53 COMMUNITY TABLE AND PRESENTATION EVENTS, AND 31 SOCIAL EVENTS. TCC ALSO PROVIDED 6 CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT TRAINING EVENTS. IN ADDITION, TCC EXPANDED ITS HARM REDUCTION EFFORTS IN THESE COUNTIES AND DISTRIBUTED 1,685 BOXES OF NALOXONE, THE LIFE-SAVING OPIOID OVERDOSE REVERSAL AGENT.
- $177,560 spent. TCC BEGAN NEW PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL AREA HOSPITALS TO PROVIDW PEER SUPPORT FOR BOTH THE EMERGENCEY DEPARTMENT AND INPATIENT REFERRALS. TCC CONNECTED WITH 222 PATIENTS AT LEXINGTON MEDICAL CENTER AND 186 PATIENTS AT PRISMA HEALTH.
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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 December 2017.
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 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.