Foster Arizona
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
EDUCATE, EMPOWER AND ENGAGE AT-RISK YOUTH, FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY TO OFFER HOPE THROUGH CONNECTIONS.
- Income
- $688,173
- Spending
- $741,878
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 344
- Highest pay
- $60,000, ceo and founder
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 8 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (4)
- $445,305 spent. FOSTER ARIZONA HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES YOUNG ADULTS 18-24 WHO ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF FOSTER CARE OR DEEMED AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE WHILE OFFERING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT. PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM SET FINANCIAL, VOCATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, PERSONAL, AND HOUSING GOALS THAT THEY WORK ON WHILE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM.
- $108,856 spent. FOSTER COOPERATIVE IS A UNIQUE DIGITAL COMMUNITY FOR ADULT CHAMPIONS OF CHILDREN FACING ADVERSITY TO FIND RESOURCES AND SUPPORT. RESOURCES INCLUDE: PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT, COMMUNITY EVENTS, QUALITY RESOURCES, AND ON-DEMAND TRAINING.
- $105,491 spent. FOSTER ARIZONA KID INITIATIVES PROGRAM SERVES KIDS 3-17 THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN FOSTER CARE OR HAVE BEEN KEPT OUT OF OR LEFT THE DCS SYSTEM DUE TO REUNIFICATION, ADOPTION, OR GUARDIANSHIP. KID INITIATIVES CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD CONNECTION AND RESILIENCE THROUGH ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILY UNITS. IMPACT POINTS RANGE FROM EVENTS THAT INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FAMILY EVENTS, KIDS ONLY EVENTS, FIRST NIGHT ESSENTIAL NEEDS REQUESTS, AND DCS PLACEMENT NEED FULFILLMENTS.
- $14,799 spent. EDUCATION INITIATIVES - FOSTER ARIZONA IS COMMITTED TO SHARING THE HONEST STORIES OF FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS, FIELD EXPERTS, AND YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE AND AT-RISK SPACES. WE DO THAT THROUGH OUR REAL STORIES AND EDUCATION VIDEOS, BI-ANNUAL FOSTER COOPERATIVE TRAINING EVENTS, AND OUR PODCAST: FOSTERING VOICES.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.