Rockside Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, MENTORING, AND MINISTRY TO TRANSITIONAL YOUNG MEN TO ENABLE THEM TO LIVE HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE, AND HOLISTIC LIVES AND TO BECOME CHANGE AGENTS IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 72
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $68,069, executive dir.
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $2.0 million spent. Rockside Ranch offers life restoration programs for young men overcoming crisis through a ministry focused, organic ranching experience which includes raising organic meat and eggs. Through our 8 month residential program we offer our students over 500 hours of life skill training and over 1000 hours of job skill training gaining work experience in over a dozen trades. Students receive weekly mentoring and over 85% of graduates are employed or in school full time. Our program operates on working ranches in Northern California, Allegan, Michigan, and New Underwood, South Dakota. Our full-time staff run the ranch and program with the goal of helping students learn the skills they need to restore their lives. We partner with regional health and human services, local churches, and community colleges to maximize opportunities for our students. We also operate a workforce program for our graduates where they can apply to live in community housing owned by the organization and work in a bakery, butchery, or custom apparel shop owned and operated by the organization. These programs and businesses have all been developed and expanded within the last three years. In 2024 Rockside had 48 students actively enrolled in its programs for 6,447 Student Days (1 student enrolled for 1 day = 1 Student Day). This equates to over 90,000 hours of valuable life and job skill training
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.