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Forward Foundation

EIN 36-4942486 · Cedar Park, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE COUNSELING, COACHING, EQUIPPING AND OTHER SERVICES THAT ENHANCE OR PROMOTE WELLNESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CHURCHES, CHARITIES, AND INDIVIDUALS.

Income
$273,211
Spending
$313,375
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$128,807, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (3)
  1. $117,515 spent. PROVIDE SLIDING-SCALE, PROFESSIONAL FAITH-BASED COUNSELLING AND LIFE- COACHING SERVICES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE POOR, DISTRESSED, AND UNDERPRIVILEGED. THESE SERVICES HELP RESTORE PEOPLE TO HEALTH AND WHOLENESS. DONATIONS WILL BE USED TO OFFSET THE COST OF PROVIDING THESE SERVICES, MAKING THEM AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL REGARDLESS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS.
  2. $118,548 spent. PROVIDE EQUPPING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE TRAINED AS A CHRISTIAN 'LIFE COACH' TO HELP THE DISTRESSED COPE WITH OR RESOLVE LIFE PROBLEMS. THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF THE TRAINING. THE FIRST VERSION IS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO BECOME AN ACCREDITED LIFE COACH, SUBMITTED THEMSELVES TO A CODE OF ETHICS AND GUIDELINES OF THE ACCREDITING BODY. THE NON-ACCREDITED VERSION OF THE TRAINING WILL BE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE SOME COACHING SKILLS, BUT DO NOT WISH TO SERVE IN ANY FORMAL CAPACITY AS A COACH. SUCH INDIVIDUALS MAY INSTEAD CHOOSE TO APPLY THEIR SKILLS IN THEIR CURRENT SPHERE OF INFLUENCE - FOR EXAMPLE, AT HOME, WORK, CHURCH OR A CHARITY - THEREBY STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC OF THEIR COMMUNITY BY INCREASING THEIR CAPACITY FOR PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT.
  3. $58,757 spent. PROVIDE PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING AND ACCREDITED LIFE-COACHING INTERNS, CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR EDUCATION, AND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR FAITH AND PRAXIS AS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLORS AND COACHES. WE WILL THEN RELEASE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY FULLY TRAINED AND PREPARED FOR A CAREER OF CHARITABLE SERVICE TO THE DISTRESSED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Democracy Forward Foundation (Washington, DC), EIN 82-1007988. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.