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Safe and Sound a Sandy Hook Initiative Inc

EIN 46-2723169 · Joplin, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT SCHOOL CRISIS PREVENTION, RESPONSE, AND RECOVERY, AND TO PROTECT EVERY SCHOOL AND EVERY STUDENT, EVERY DAY.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
9
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$193,463, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 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 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    0 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. $1.4 million spent. SAFE AND SOUND'S COMMUNITY AND STATEWIDE INITIATIVES WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO BRING TOGETHER REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS FOR GREATER IMPACT. STATES, COUNTIES AND DISTRICTS CAN SCALE THEIR SCHOOL SAFETY INVESTMENTS BY BRINGING TOGETHER MULTIPLE SROS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND SCHOOL STAFF TO CENTRAL LOCATIONS, THEREBY INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY WHEN RETHINKING SCHOOL SAFETY. SAFE AND SOUND SCHOOLS CAN TAILOR WORKSHOPS TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF LOCAL GEOGRAPHIES AS A STAND-ALONE EVENT, OR AS PART OF A REGIONAL STATE TOUR TO REACH MORE STAKEHOLDERS IN A SHORTER TIME FRAME. THIS CONCENTRATED FOCUS BUILDS MIND SHARE AND HELPS CREATE SYNERGIES ACROSS MULTIPLE SHCOOLS AND DISTRICTS. PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS CAN LEARN AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES, AND SERVE RESOURCES TO EACH OTHER AS THEY AUDIT, ACT AND ASSESS THEIR SHCOOL SAFETY EFFORTS. SAFE AND SOUND SCHOOLS CAN TAILOR WORKSHOPS TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF LOCAL GEOGRAPHIES AS A STAND-ALONE EVENT, OR AS PART OF A REGIONAL STATE TOUR TO REACH MORE STAKEHOLDERS IN A SHORTER TIME FRAME. THIS CONCENTRATED FOCUS BUILDS MIND SHARE AND HELPS CREATE SYNERGIES ACROSS MULTIPLE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS CAN LEARN AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES, AND SERVE RESOURCES TO EACH OTHER AS THEY AUDIT, ACT AND ASSESS THEIR SCHOOL SAFETY EFFORTS.
  2. $733,783 spent. SAFE AND SOUND HOSTS NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SCHOOL SAFETY SUMMIT EVENTS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SPEAKERS AND PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING BEST PRACTICES, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND ACTIONABLE INSIGHT TO THE WORLD OF SCHOOL SAFETY.
  3. $371,617 spent. SAFE AND SOUND'S CUSTOM WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ENGAGE EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS AND/OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CREATING SAFER SCHOOLS THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS, INLCUDING AVERTED SCHOOL VIOLENCE, BRIGHT FUTURES, COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY FRAMEWORK, ESPECIALLY SAFE, AND PATHWAYS FOR PREVENTION. IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS OFFERED, SAFE AND SOUND PARTNERS WITH A NETWORK OF EXPERTS TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED CONSULTING TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS PLAN AND PREPARE FOR SAFETY.

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 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 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 2024.

    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 June 2014.

    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.