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Born This Way Foundation

EIN 45-2752227 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION EMPOWERS AND INSPIRES YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUILD A KINDER, BRAVER WORLD THAT SUPPORTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
10.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
15
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$312,996, director, president

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
  1. $3.2 million spent. THE KINDNESS IN COMMUNITY FUND IS OUR YOUTH-DRIVEN GRANTMAKING INITIATIVE THAT EMPOWERS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ADDRESSING YOUNG PEOPLE'S DIVERSE NEEDS GLOBALLY. GUIDED BY YOUNG PEOPLE'S INPUT FROM NOMINATION TO SELECTION, WE SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INFORMED OR LED BY YOUNG PEOPLE, ROOTED IN EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AND PROVIDE FREE, ACCESSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. IN 2024, THE KINDNESS IN COMMUNITY FUND, WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT COTTON ON, DISTRIBUTED OVER 2.8M USD TO 65 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 10 COUNTRIES, SUPPORTING A VARIETY OF RESOURCES THAT FOSTER MENTAL WELLNESS INCLUDING CLINICAL CARE, EDUCATION, AND SAFE SPACES.
  2. $1.1 million spent. BE THERE CERTIFICATE IS OUR FREE, ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH COURSE THAT EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS TO CONFIDENTLY AND COMPASSIONATELY SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JACK.ORG. THROUGH SIX SELF-PACED LESSONS, AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND SPANISH, YOUNG PEOPLE AND CARING ADULTS LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING, PROVIDE SUPPORT, AND CONNECT OTHERS TO THE HELP THEY DESERVE. AS OF 2024, OVER 60K PEOPLE HAVE EARNED THEIR BE THERE CERTIFICATE, WITH OVER 50 COMPLETED DAILY. SURVEYS SHOW THAT WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF COMPLETING THE COURSE, 79% OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE USED THE SKILLS THEY LEARNED TO SUPPORT SOMEONE, 96% FEEL MORE CONFIDENT OFFERING SUPPORT, AND 95% CAN BETTER RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF STRUGGLE.
  3. $407,923 spent. WE ENGAGE YOUTH THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT AMPLIFY THEIR STORIES AND CELEBRATE THE KINDER, BRAVER WORLD THEY'RE ALREADY BUILDING. CHANNEL KINDNESS IS OUR DIGITAL PLATFORM INVITING YOUNG PEOPLE TO PUT COMPASSION INTO ACTION THROUGH STORYTELLING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IN 2024, OUR EDITORS HELPED 142 YOUTH SHARE THEIR STORIES, EACH PAIRED WITH SUGGESTED ACTIONS TO INSPIRE CHANGE. THE PLATFORM HAS FEATURED 2K+ STORIES FROM 61 COUNTRIES TO DATE. WE ALSO HOST THE FREE CHANNEL KINDNESS STORYTELLERS CLUB, A WRITING WORKSHOP THAT HELPS YOUTH TURN THEIR PERSPECTIVES INTO POWERFUL NARRATIVES. IN 2024, WE ENGAGED 249 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SESSIONS. #BEKIND365, OUR DIGITAL PLATFORM ENCOURAGING INTENTIONAL DAILY KINDNESS, HAS ENGAGED 55K PEOPLE ACROSS 119 COUNTRIES, PLEDGING 20M+ KIND ACTS TO DATE.
  4. $1.1 million spent. IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS ABOVE, WE CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ACCESSIBLE, EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND CONDUCT RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES UNDERSTANDING OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. OUR GLOBAL YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD GUIDES OUR MISSION, COLLABORATING ON PROGRAM DESIGN AND EXECUTION TO KEEP OUR WORK AUTHENTICALLY YOUTH-DRIVEN AND IMPACTFUL. MOST RECENTLY IN 2024, WE PARTNERED WITH HOPELAB TO SURVEY 1.2K LGBTQ+ YOUTH TO EXPLORE HOW TO BUILD SUPPORTIVE ONLINE SPACES. THESE FINDINGS WILL HELP US CONTINUE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOUNG PEOPLE, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND DECISION-MAKERS TO IMPROVE PRACTICES AND BUILD AWARENESS.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 August 2011.

    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.