Special Operators Transition Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE SPECIAL OPERATORS TRANSITION FOUNDATION ("SOTF") ASSISTS SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES VETERANS TRANSITION FROM THE MILITARY INTO THEIR NEXT SUCCESSFUL CAREER.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 13.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $230,300, ceo
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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
- $1.4 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION'S INITIAL FOCUS IS TO SERVE EXCLUSIVELY THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY, AND ASSOCIATED PERSONNEL, WHO HAVE FACED COMBAT AND HIGH-RISK MISSIONS. SERVICES AND GRANTS PROVIDED VARY BY CASE BUT INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES, PAID INTERNSHIPS, COOPERATIVE EDUCATION AND FAMILY STABILIZATION SUPPORT. FINDING A JOB IN TODAY'S MARKET IS COMPETITIVE AND DIFFICULT ENOUGH FOR THE AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, BUT IT IS EVEN HARDER FOR SERVICE MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPENT THE LAST DECADE DEPLOYING TO COMBAT ZONES. ADDITIONALLY, FOR THOSE TRANSITIONING FROM YEARS OF SERVICE WITH A SPECIAL OPERATION UNIT, FINDING A POSITION IN TODAY'S BUSINESS WORLD BRINGS CERTAIN CHALLENGES NOT ORDINARILY FACED BY CIVILIANS. HOWEVER, SPECIAL OPERATIONS VETERANS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE OVER THEIR CIVILIAN COUNTERPARTS. THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE FOUND IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS VETERANS IS THAT THEY EMBODY AND DEMONSTRATE AGILITY BY ANTICIPATING CHANGE, INITIATING ACTION, GENERATING CONFIDENCE, LIBERATING THINKING, AND EVALUATING RESULTS.
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 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 2025.
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 2014.
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.