Operation Vet-Fit
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- 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
OPERATION VET-FITS MISSION IS TO ASSIST OUR NATIONS COMBAT VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS AND AFFECTED FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH ADVOCACY, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, RESEARCH, FITNESS, CAMARADERIE BASED MOTIVATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.
- Income
- $83,174
- Spending
- $78,120
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- -4.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $16,682, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 139% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).
Independent board
5 of 253 of 6 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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 (3)
- $25,539 spent. CAMARADARIE BASED EVENTS: THIS CATEGORY REPRESENTS THE STAPLE OF OUR PROGRAMS AND PROVIDES GROUP BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND FITNESS EVENTS FOR COMBAT VETERAN POPULATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO GOLF OUTINGS, GYM MEMBERSHIPS, EXERCISE PROGRAMS AND DINNERS. OUR AGENCY HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE SOLUTIONS TO VETERAN SUICIDE CRISIS CENTER AROUND A RENEWED SENSE OF BELONGING, BROTHERHOOD, COMARADARIE AND FINALLY PURPOSE. OUR COMMARADAIRE BASED EVENTS ASSIST IN FOSTERING A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE WHILE ALSO DEMONSTRATING MEASURABLE EFFICACY IN REDUCING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, PAIN AND PTSD SYMPTOMS. EACH OF THESE ARE RISK FACTORS OF SUICIDE.
- $24,528 spent. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. VETERAN SERVICE RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS ON VETERAN SUICIDE. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN A LOW COST FOR THIS CATEGORY AS THE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS. OUR RESEARCH IS BASED AROUND THE OBSERVATIONAL DATA ON HOW CAMARADERIE AND EXERCISE WORK AS KEY ELEMENTS TO STOPPING NOT ONLY VETERAN SUICIDE, BUT SUICIDE AS A WHOLE. THE PRIMARY GOAL BEING THE REDUCTION ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, PAIN AND PTSD SYMPTOMS. THE FOUNDER, DIRECTOR AND CEO IS A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR, COMPENSATED AT NO GREATER THAN $1,650/MONTH FOR HIS CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE VETERANS. THIS IS REPORTED VIA 1099 NEC. THIS AMOUNT IS OFFSET BY THE AMOUNT OPERATION VET FIT WAS REIMBURSED BY VETERANS INSURANCE. IN-KIND COUNSELING, WHERE NO FUNDS WERE REIMBURSED BY INSURANCE WAS $119,000.
- $730 spent. CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE ON BEHALF OF PROGRAM VETERANS. ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE TO QUALIFIED 501(C)3 ORGANIZATIONS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 July 2013.
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.