Fuse Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF FUSE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE THE SPARK FOR INNOVATION, FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS BENEFITING CHILDREN ALONG ALABAMA'S GULF COAST BY INVESTING IN INITIATIVES, WHICH PROMOTE THE HEALTH, FITNESS, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR CHILDREN.
- Income
- $471,929
- Spending
- $481,353
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -6.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $67,500, executive director
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
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 94% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% 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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (4)
- $35,586 spent. FUSE PROJECT'S ORDER OF FUSE ORGANIZATION CONSISTS OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LOOKING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY. FUSE PROJECT HOSTS SEVERAL LARGE EVENTS AND MONTHLY NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROVIDES VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORDER OF FUSE (OOF) MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN. EACH SPRING, AT THE FINAL EVENT, THE OOF MEMBERS VOTE TO DETERMINE WHAT LOCAL CAUSES SERVING CHILDREN A PORTION OF THEIR DUES WILL FUND.
- $76,767 spent. FUSE FACTORY IS A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CO-WORKING SPACE OPERATED BY THE FUSE PROJECT LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN MOBILE. ORGANIZATIONS PAY RENT IN RETURN FOR PRIVATE OFFICE OR COMMUNAL SPACE, QUARTERLY EDUCATION AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, SHARED UTILITIES AND KITCHEN AREA, AND ACCESS TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
- $162,475 spent. THE HISTORIC AVENUE FOUNDATION OPERATES AS A COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK TO BRING HOLISTIC COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION TO "THE AVENUE" COMMUNITY LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN MOBILE BY INVESTING IN MIXED-INCOME HOUSING, CRADLE-TO-COLLEGE EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS.
- $67,437 spent. VARIOUS INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE ABC PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES THE ABC EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM, SPARK SUMMER CAMP, AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAM IN EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS
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? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
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 September 2012.
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.