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Sounds True Foundation

EIN 46-1236964 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair54 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOUNDS TRUE FOUNDATION SHARES TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES TO EMPOWER PEOPLE ON THEIR LIFE JOURNEYS. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THE INNER WISDOM, TOOLS, AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

Income
$601,415
Spending
$534,618
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
21

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 4 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.

  • 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, 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. $100,000 spent. MINDFUL CHAMPIONS: STUDENTS FROM THE FIFTH COHORT, WHERE 102 FULL SCHOLARSHIPS WERE GRANTED, STARTED IN FEBRUARY 2025. MINDFUL CHAMPIONS ARE DEDICATED TO BRINGING MINDFULNESS TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED.
  2. $240,907 spent. PRODUCT DONATIONS: IN 2025, 9,140 BOOKS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WERE DONATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE SOUNDS TRUE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FREE REGISTRATIONS FOR ONLINE COURSES TO SUPPORT THOSE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. A TOTAL OF 1,071 FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO ONLINE COURSES WERE GRANTED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY.
  3. $149,406 spent. THE HEALING TRAUMA PROGRAM CHANGEMAKERS - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WELLBEING PROJECT, THE SOUNDS TRUE FOUNDATION ENROLLED 150 GLOBAL "CHANGEMAKERS"LEADERS IN THE FRONT LINES TACKLING THE WORLD'S MOST URGENT CRISESINTO THE HEALING TRAUMA PROGRAM.FOR MANY OF THESE CHANGEMAKERS, PRIMARILY BASED IN THE GLOBAL SOUTHACCESS TO TRAUMA-INFORMED RESOURCES IS OFTEN SCARCE. THANKS TO A GENEROUS DONATION FROM LIGHTEN, THESE 150 INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW PREPARED TO RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AS "RIPPLES" OF HEALING, TRANSFORMING THE VERY SYSTEMS THEY LEAD. A NEW COHORT OF 150 CHANGEMAKERS STARTED IN FEBRUARY AS PART OF THE HEALING TRAUMA PROGRAM'S 2026 ENROLLEES.
  4. $29,406 spent. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED ITS PRISON OUTREACH PROJECT THROUGH THE PRINT-ON-DEMAND BOOK, LEAVING PRISON BEFORE YOU GET OUT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRIP FOUNDER JACQUES VERDUIN, THIS MANUAL IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE TOOL OF ITS KIND. IT EQUIPS JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF WITH THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF MINDFULNESS AND EMOTIONAL SELF-REGULATION. THE FOUNDATION PRINTS AND DISTRIBUTES LEAVING PRISON BEFORE YOU GET OUT EXCLUSIVELY TO GRIP AT NO COST TO THE ORGANIZATION. SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2024, 1,560 PRINTED COPIES HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED, IN ADDITION TO ITS E-BOOK AND AUDIO VERSIONS.IN ADDITION, THROUGH OUR SECOND YEAR OF PARTNERSHIP WITH EDUCATION OVER OBSTACLES (EDOVO), AN ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE IN THE PRISON SYSTEM, THE SOUNDS TRUE FOUNDATION REACHED MORE THAN ONE MILLION JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS NATIONWIDE. THE FOUNDATION DONATED SELECT DIGITAL TITLES ON MINDFULNESS, GRIEF, TRAUMA, SELF-COMPASSION, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, AND MORE.

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

  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, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2015.

    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 December 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 March 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.