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Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement Inc

EIN 46-1931751 · Newtown, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BEFORE SCARLETT LEWIS'S 6-YEAR-OLD SON JESSE LEWIS LOST HIS LIFE AT SANDY HOOK SCHOOL ON DECEMBER 14, 2012, HE HAD WRITTEN A MESSAGE ON HER KITCHEN CHALKBOARD: NURTURING HEALING LOVE. THE WORDS "NURTURING AND HEALING" ARE PART OF THE DEFINITION OF COMPASSION ACROSS NEARLY ALL CULTURES. LOVE IS THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIVES ARE BUILT. INSPIRED BY JESSE'S WORDS, THE JESSE LEWIS CHOOSE LOVE MOVEMENT WAS FORMED WITH A MISSION TO CREATE SAFER, MORE LOVING COMMUNITIES BUILT ON ENRICHING CONNECTION, LOVE, AWARENESS, AND RESILIENCE WHERE EVERY CHILD LEARNS AND BENEFITS FROM THE ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS REQUIRED TO CHOOSE LOVE, AND HELPS TO FACILITATE THIS TEACHING WITHIN THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. THE CHOOSE LOVE FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM IS A PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE CHARACTER SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CSED) PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS AND FORTIFIES EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS WITH THE POWER OF CHOICE IN ANY SITUATION, NEUROSCIENTIFICALLY DESIGNED TO TEACH EMOTIONAL

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$863,000
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
18.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
6
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$158,206, cmo

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
  1. $762,126 spent. The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement continues to update the Choose Love For Schools program which has now been accessed in all 50 states, in more than 135 countries, by more than 15,000 school users. That's more than 10 million people globally that have accessed the no cost curriculum via a robust learning management system that was updated in 2023. In 2025, Choose Love continued to develop, enhance, update, and maintain a substantial collection of supplemental Bonus Lessons. These lessons align with and extend the core Choose Love for Schools curriculum, allowing students and educators to explore important topics more deeply and apply Choose Love skills to real-life experiences, relationships, challenges, and choices.Bonus and supplemental lessons developed, enhanced, updated, or supported in 2025 included:-Shine HOPE-Forgiving Your Enemy-The Heros Journey-Forgiveness as a Superpower-Nonverbal Communication Lessons from Shyboy-Science of Revenge-Choose Love Strong-The Heroic Choice-HeartMath-Inner Resources-Harvesting the Gifts-Authentic Self-Mixed Emotions-Conflict Resolution-Fear Versus Anxiety-Our Personal PrinciplesProgram funding supported the extensive work required to research, develop, review, revise, and maintain these educational resources. This included researching current neuroscience, positive psychology, resilience, trauma-informed practices, character development, emotional regulation, and social and emotional learning; translating research into age-appropriate and practical educational content; writing and revising lessons; developing activities, discussion prompts, reflection exercises, and educator guidance; reviewing materials for developmental appropriateness and consistency; and aligning supplemental content with the Choose Love Formula of Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion in Action.Resources were also devoted to editing, design, supporting materials, videos and digital resources where applicable, curriculum review, technology and learning-management-system implementation, uploading and organizing content, testing materials, and maintaining and updating lessons as research and educational needs evolved.These supplemental lessons extend learning beyond the foundational Choose Love curriculum into subjects directly relevant to the challenges young people face. Topics address hope, forgiveness, communication, conflict resolution, difficult and mixed emotions, fear and anxiety, personal values and principles, resilience, authenticity, recognizing inner resources, learning and growing through adversity, and making thoughtful and courageous choices.Through this work, donations helped transform research and evidence-informed concepts into practical tools educators can use to help students understand themselves and others, strengthen emotional regulation, improve communication and relationships, navigate conflict and adversity, develop resilience, and recognize their ability to choose thoughtful responses.The Bonus Lessons also reflect Choose Loves commitment to keeping its programming dynamic rather than static. As neuroscience, research, educational practices, and the needs of students and educators evolve, program resources support the continued review and enhancement of curriculum so that Choose Love programming remains relevant, accessible, practical, and useful in todays classrooms.This curriculum development and continuous-improvement process represents a significant component of Choose Loves programmatic work and demonstrates how charitable contributions are directly invested in creating, improving, maintaining, and delivering educational resources that advance the organizations mission.

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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 July 2013.

    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 November 4, 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.