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One Circle Foundation

EIN 45-1898809 · San Rafael, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 137 cents.

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

What it says it does

ONE CIRCLE FOUNDATION PREPARES CARING ADULTS WITH EXCELLENT ACCREDITED TRAINING, USER-FRIENDLY ACTIVITY GUIDES, AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO FACILITATE RESEARCH-BASED CIRCLES FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. OUR WORK ENSURES THAT YOUTH THRIVE WORLDWIDE THROUGH COMPASSIONATE CONNECTIONS AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$993,690
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
17
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$121,600, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 137 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. 1. FACILITATOR TRAININGS. ONE CIRCLE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE EFFECTIVE FACILITATION OF OUR CIRCLE MODELS BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE, ACCREDITED TRAINING FOR ADULTS WORKING WITH YOUTH. OCF PROVIDED 47 TRAININGS DURING THE YEAR. TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY, WE CONTINUED OFFERING BOTH LIVE ONLINE AND IN-PERSON TRAINING.NEW TRAINING RELEASE: ADVANCED FACILITATION SKILLS: CONNECT, LEAD, GROW LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2025, THIS TRAINING STRENGTHENS CIRCLE FACILITATORS' ABILITY TO DEEPEN CONNECTION, LEAD WITH CLARITY, AND NAVIGATE COMPLEX DYNAMICS THROUGH RESEARCH-INFORMED FACILITATION PRACTICES.IMPACT: OCF CERTIFIED 1,110 CIRCLE FACILITATORS WHO GAINED THE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES TO PROVIDE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND STRENGTHS-BASED CIRCLE PROGRAMS. THESE NEW FACILITATORS REACHED OVER 11,100 YOUTH ACROSS EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH, JUVENILE JUSTICE, FOSTER CARE, CHILD SERVICES, COMMUNITY-BASED, AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS. TRAINING PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION INCREASED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO 97.4%. FACILITATORS REPORTED GREATER CONFIDENCE IN APPLYING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING STRATEGIES, WITH STRONG GAINS IN MANAGING GROUP DYNAMICS, UTILIZING PRACTICAL TOOLS, AND EFFECTIVELY CREATING SAFE, ENGAGING ENVIRONMENTS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH CONNECTION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT.
  2. 2. CURRICULA & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. ONE CIRCLE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR CIRCLE MODELS BY OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE ACTIVITY GUIDES, FACILITATOR MANUALS, AND EVALUATION TOOLS. IN 2025, WE CONTINUED EXPANDING AND IMPROVING OUR RESOURCES TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF YOUTH SERVICE PROFESSIONALS.NEW CURRICULUM RELEASE: VOICE & CHOICE: EMBRACING BOUNDARIES AND CONSENT LAUNCHED IN MARCH 2025, THIS 10-SESSION CURRICULUM PROVIDES FACILITATORS WITH STRUCTURED, EVIDENCE-INFORMED SESSIONS TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, UNDERSTANDING CONSENT, SETTING BOUNDARIES, AND STRENGTHENING PERSONAL AUTONOMY.UPDATED CURRICULA: WE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE UPDATE OF THE UNITY CIRCLE SEX IN THE DIGITAL AGE SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITY GUIDE, ALONG WITH UPDATES TO RESEARCH AND CITATIONS, AND MINOR REVISIONS TO THREE OTHER ACTIVITY GUIDES.CURRICULUM ACCESSIBILITY: WE EXPANDED OUR DIGITAL CURRICULUM LIBRARY, RELEASING FIVE NEW DIGITAL GUIDES TO MAKE RESOURCES MORE AFFORDABLE, EASIER TO ACCESS, AND FASTER TO USE.TOTAL CURRICULA ORDERED: 3,295, WITH THE TOP THREE MOST-ORDERED GUIDES BEING 1. VOICE & CHOICE: EMBRACING BOUNDARIES AND CONSENT, 2. GIRLS CIRCLE FACILITATOR MANUAL, 3. ALL TOGETHER RISING: SESSIONS FOR YOUTH IN ADVERSITY. IMPACT: ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS YOUTH-SERVING SECTORS STRENGTHENED THEIR CAPACITY TO OFFER STRUCTURED, STRENGTHS-BASED SUPPORT THROUGH CIRCLE PROGRAMS, USING OUR CURRICULA TO HELP YOUTH BUILD RESILIENCE, HEALTHY BOUNDARIES, CONNECTION, AND SELF-EFFICACY.
  3. 3. CONSULTATION AND RESPONSIVE SERVICES TO FACILITATORS AND PROGRAMS IN NEED. BEYOND TRAINING AND CURRICULA, ONE CIRCLE FOUNDATION PROVIDES CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TO FACILITATORS THROUGH RESOURCES, CONSULTATIONS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.FACILITATOR CONSULTATION & SUPPORT: OCF CONTINUED OUR NO-COST FACILITATOR SUPPORT PROGRAM, OFFERING 12 MONTHLY LIVE ZOOM SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN ADDITION TO A LEADERSHIP CIRCLE TO LEADERS OF ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDED IN-PERSON AND ONLINE CUSTOMIZED CONSULTATIONS FOR 2 AGENCIES AND OVER 50 INDIVIDUALS. SCHOLARSHIPS: WE AWARDED $55,936 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND DISCOUNTS TO FACILITATORS NEEDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND TRAINING AND/OR ACQUIRE CURRICULA. CURRICULUM DIGITIZATION: WE EXPANDED OUR DIGITAL OFFERINGS, ENABLING ORGANIZATIONS TO ACCESS CURRICULA AT A LOWER COST WITH ENHANCED USABILITY.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: WE DEVELOPED AND SHARED FACILITATOR RESOURCES, INCLUDING "ADAPTING CIRCLE SESSIONS TO 45 MINUTES", "TIPS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS NAVIGATING TODAY'S CHALLENGES", AND "HOW TO KEEP YOUTH ENGAGED IN THE AGE OF TIKTOK". THESE RESOURCES PROVIDE PRACTICAL TOOLS TO HELP FACILITATORS MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUTH. IMPACT: THESE EFFORTS ENSURED THAT FACILITATORS RECEIVED ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SUSTAIN AND GROW THEIR CIRCLE PROGRAMS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.