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Lost and Found Association

EIN 45-4306370 · Sioux Falls, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceFair55 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.
  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

LOST&FOUND DELIVERS COMPREHENSIVE, DATA-DRIVEN, AND RESILIENCE-FOCUSED SUICIDE PREVENTION AND POSTVENTION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 10-34) AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
18
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$106,892, executive director

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

Financial health

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 104% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 11 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $674,549 spent. LOST&FOUND STUDENT & CAMPUS PROGRAMS INCREASED ITS IMPACT THROUGH SOUTH DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA SERVICES, PROVIDING CAMPUS CHAPTERS, PEER2PEER MENTORSHIP, L&F ADVOCATES, AND CAMPUS RESILIENCE INDEX SERVICES TO 12 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THESE PROGRAMS SERVED MORE THAN 1000 STUDENTS, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO FIVE CAMPUSES. THE LEADING STUDENT PROGRAM, PEER2PEER MENTORSHIP, HELPED 98% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ACHIEVE PERSONAL GOALS AND MORE THAN 85% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS INCREASE PERSONAL RESILIENCE. 95% OF STUDENTS ENGAGED IN LOST&FOUND PROGRAMS WERE SATISFIED WITH THE EXPERIENCE. TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THIS PROGRAM, LOST&FOUND ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REACHU MOBILE APPLICATION TO ENABLE MORE EFFECTIVE PROGRAM SUPPORT.
  2. $137,831 spent. THROUGH COMMUNITY TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS LIKE LOST&FOUND ADVOCATES, MORE THAN 2500 STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION EDUCATION AND RESOURCES FROM LOST&FOUND THROUGH CLASSROOM EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY TRAINING PROGRAMS.
  3. $307,192 spent. ESTABLISHED IN LATE 2021, LOST&FOUND'S EVALUATION & RESEARCH SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM EVALUATION SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE, INDIRECTLY IMPACTING MORE THAN 250,000 PEOPLE THROUGH WHOM PROGRAMS ARE CURRENTLY SERVING UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, AND FOUNDATION GRANTS. THIS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CREATION OF THE RESILIENCE INDEX, A SUICIDE PREVENTION CAPACITY MEASUREMENT TOOL BASED UPON CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL RESOURCES.
  4. $97,840 spent. CREATED THROUGH A MERGER WITH THE NONPROFIT SURVIVORS JOINING FOR HOPE (SJ4H) IN 2024, LOST&FOUND'S POSTVENTION SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDES DIRECT FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY SUICIDE DEATH, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS IN ESTABLISHING SUICIDE DEATH PROTOCOL POLICIES AND SERVICES. SINCE THE DEPARTMENT'S LAUNCH, MORE THAN 15 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED OVER $34,000 IN FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO NAVIGATE SUICIDE LOSS AND DEFRAY FUNERAL, GRIEF COUNSELING, AND LEGAL EXPENSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.

    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 June 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 July 2016.

    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.