Upward Roots Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Upward Roots is a nonprofit organization that develops leadership and empowers youth through community service.
- Income
- $166,630
- Spending
- $164,381
- Reserves
- 15.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Highest pay
- $94,000, executive dir.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 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 (1)
- $121,915 spent. Founded in 2010, Upward Roots engages youth in a dynamic curriculum based on education, leadership, and service learning,promoting the idea that each and every young person can be a positive changemaker within their community. By providing thesupport needed to successfully plan and execute community service projects of their own design, Upward Rootshelps young people develop into emerging leaders, while also improving self-confidence, academic progress, personal developmentand civic attitudes.In our programs, community service is a youth-led, experiential learning process, where youth identify needs that they are passionateabout and design service solutions to address those needs. When we let youth lead, positive change happens. UR partners withOakland Title 1 public elementary and middle schools where over 90% of URs changemakers are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Over the course of 10-12 afterschool sessions in a semester, participants engage in URs dynamic curriculum. The program is designed to provide the space and structure for participants to grow personally and act collectively to create positive change through planning and leading a community service project to address a need that they are passionate about impacting.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.
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 2011.
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.