Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Fortress Youth Development Center Inc

EIN 42-1588482 · Fort Worth, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

By building bridges from poverty to promise, we feel called to provide resources that bring hope to the lives of families working to end the cycle of generational poverty. Our dual-generation approach includes programs designed to ignite spiritually engage rationally and equip individuals academically.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
46
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$64,425, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    0 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 (6)
  1. $873,618 spent. FORTRESS PRESCHOOL IS A FULL-TIME LICENSED PRESCHOOL WHICH PROVIDES SMALL GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION FROM OUR ON-STAFF READING INTERVENTION SPECIALIST UTILIZING BOTH TECHNOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHODS. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. THEY ARE ALSO GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE NEW TALENTS AND SKILLS THAT MAY OPEN DOORS FOR CREATIVE PLAY EARLY LITERACY TRAINING AND SCHOOL READINESS FOR CHILDREN AGES 18 MONTHS-4 YEARS. CHILDREN ENROLLED IN FORTRESS PRESCHOOL PARTICIPATE IN BOTH TEACHER AND CHILD-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES RECEIVE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AND ENJOY BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE PLAY.
  2. $35,212 spent. CACFP - THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM CACFP IS A FEDERAL USDA INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENTS FOR NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS SERVIED TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN PARTICIPATING DAYCARES AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND ADULT CARE FACILITIES.
  3. $7,175 spent. FORTRESS SUMMER IS A DAILY BIBLE-FOCUSED PROGRAM WHICH KEEPS CHILDREN ENGAGED IN A FUN SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHILE ENCOURAGING ACADEMIC AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH. IT EMPLOYS THE GIFTS AND RESOURCES OF VISITING YOUTH MISSION GROUPS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  4. $1,645 spent. FORTRESS AFTER SCHOOL PROVIDES PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS WHO ATTEND A NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IN THE CLASSROOM THERE IS A SHARED ACADEMIC FOCUS ON COMPLETING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS AND READING. BEYOND THAT FORTRESS TEACHERS SUPPORT SCHOOL LEARNING WITH ENGAGING AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ART PROJECTS SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AND OUTDOOR LEARNING. STUDENTS IN NEED OF EXTRA ACADEMIC SUPPORT RECEIVE SMALL GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION FROM OUR ON-STAFF READING INTERVENTION SPECIALIST UTILIZING BOTH TECHNOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHODS. TIME IS ALLOTTED EACH WEEK FOR OUTDOOR PLAY AND GAMES. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. THEY ARE ALSO GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE NEW TALENTS AND SKILLS THAT MAY OPEN DOORS FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE. SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS FIELD TRIPS AND SPECIAL INTEREST CLUBS ALSO MAKE THE PROGRAM AN ENRICHING FUN EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS.
  5. $1,166 spent. LEAD LEARN ENGAGE ACHIEVE DISCIPLINE FORMALLY EQUIP IS THE PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM. FORTRESS DOES NOT CHARGE FOR ITS PROGRAMS INSTEAD REQUIRES TWELVE HOURS OF ENGAGEMENT FROM EACH FAMILY. THE LEAD PROGRAM OFFERS PARENTING CLASSES SERVICES AND FAMILY EVENTS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY AND ENCOURAGE ENGAGEMENTS.
  6. $146,674 spent. ALLOCATION OF EXPENSE IN SUPPORT OF ALL PROGRAMS SALARIES PAYROLL TAXES BENEFITS OCCUPANCY INSURANCE DEPRECIATION

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 October 13, 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 July 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 September 2004.

    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 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.