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Tom Tod Ideas Inc

EIN 46-0732616 · Canton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TomTod Ideas empowers middle schoolers to explore and launch ideas that put empathy and imagination into action that help communities thrive. We do this through direct programming, project-based mentoring, and in-and-out of school learning adventures that celebrate middle schoolers for their inspiring attributes. We also equip other youth-serving organizations with training, curriculum, and best practices to walk alongside middle schoolers in this critical stage of development.

Income
$755,317
Spending
$655,588
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
20
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$69,649, executive director/board member

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $276,308 spent. Camps: TomTod's summer day camps cultivate fun, curiosity, and creativity, inviting middle schoolers to explore and create ideas by immersing them in their community and interests. Using a design-thinking-infused approach, campers are empowered to explore their community, collaborate with adult leaders, imaginatively problem-solve with their friends, and prototype ideas with TomTod's staff. All TomTod camps connect middle schoolers deeply with their community by hosting camps in collaborative spaces with partnering organizations (such as park systems, universities, art galleries, and business owners). During TomTod camps, middle schoolers develop friendships, have fun, and make memories while growing essential skills. Every TomTod camp ends with a celebration of the campers' discoveries and creations with community members, friends, and families.
  2. $209,435 spent. Classes: TomTod's school-based classes guide students through TomTod's community-centered design thinking process to explore and create ideas for their community. Through twelve weekly sessions offered over the course of a school semester, TomTod staff and partnering educators lead students through community projects tailored to each community that complement middle school learning standards. TomTod's classes center on student voice and focus on growing students' critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills. The goal of each TomTod class is for middle schoolers to use their newly acquired community knowledge and skills to formulate ideas that serve others. TomTod classes take the best of project-based, problem-based, place-based, and passion-based learning in ways that unlock middle schoolers' innate creativity and altruism.
  3. $30,809 spent. Collabs: Outside of direct service, TomTod collaborates to provide curriculum, professional development, training, and more. Community Idea Quests connect our in-house-developed curriculum to specific communities, empowering partners to bring TomTod programming into their own schools with support from TomTod staff. These collaborative programs provide partners with a contextualized, developmentally-aligned curriculum as well as technical support through professional development, team training, and program monitoring and evaluation. TomTod also offers on-demand training for educators, youth development professionals, and community partners, sharing expertise in early adolescence best practices, covering a variety of topics including curriculum development, program design, pedagogical approaches, and continuous improvement models. Partners have included school districts, educational service centers, youth development organizations, out-of-school-time collaboratives, libraries, and more.

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

  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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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.

  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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.