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Hero Kids Foundation

EIN 46-3993070 · Suffolk, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT HERO KIDS FOUNDATION, OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT THE FAMILIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL THROUGH NATURE-BASED TEAM- BUILDING ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. WE ARE DEDICATED TO FOSTERING RESILIENCE, CAMARADERIE, AND WELL-BEING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING UNIQUE, ENGAGING EXPERIENCES THAT STRENGTHEN BONDS AND INSPIRE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE NATURAL WORLD. THROUGH OUR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, WE AIM TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE IMPACT THAT EMPOWERS FAMILIES AND ENSURES LASTING POSITIVE CHANGE.

Income
$278,382
Spending
$218,947
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
4
Volunteers
880

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $203,146 spent. 1.NATURE-BASED TEAM BUILDING: CONDUCTING OUTDOOR PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE RESILIENCE, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, AND STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS THROUGH STRUCTURED TEAM-BUILDING EXERCISES. 2.NASA STEAM GLOBE CAMP: OFFERING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM) EDUCATION THROUGH NASA-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY. 3.TRAIL OF HEROES: MAINTAINING AND EXPANDING AN ACCESSIBLE NATURE TRAIL DESIGNED FOR MOBILITY-IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE USE OF ALL-TERRAIN WHEELCHAIRS FOR OUR VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, ENABLING THERAPEUTIC OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. 4.C.A.R.E. (COMMUNITY ARTS RESILIENCY ENGAGEMENT) CENTER: DELIVERING MULTIDISCIPLINARY THERAPEUTIC SERVICES THROUGH ARTS-BASED ACTIVITIES, FOSTERING EMOTIONAL WELLNESS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. 5.HORTICULTURAL WELLNESS PROGRAMS: UTILIZING GARDENING AND POLLINATOR INITIATIVES AS THERAPEUTIC AND EDUCATIONAL TOOLS, SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH, AND FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. 6.ANIMAL-ASSISTED PROGRAMS: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO ENGAGE WITH FARM ANIMALS FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND THERAPEUTIC BENEFIT, ENHANCING EMPATHY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND HUMANE EDUCATION. 7.COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT: HOSTING FUNDRAISING EVENTS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS THAT RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THE NEEDS OF MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDER FAMILIES. 8.VIRGINIA ELEMENTARY STEM LAB PARTNERSHIP: SERVING AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER WITH THE FIRST VIRGINIA ELEMENTARY STEM LAB AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SUFFOLK, SUPPORTING EARTH SCIENCES EDUCATION THROUGH INTEGRATED STEM ACTIVITIES AND CURRICULUM. COLLECTIVELY, THESE ACTIVITIES REFLECT HKF'S MISSION TO PROMOTE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AMONG THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. 1.NATURE-BASED TEAM BUILDING: CONDUCTING OUTDOOR PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE RESILIENCE, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, AND STRENGTHEN FAMILY BONDS THROUGH STRUCTURED TEAM-BUILDING EXERCISES. 2.NASA STEAM GLOBE CAMP: OFFERING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM) EDUCATION THROUGH NASA-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY. 3.TRAIL OF HEROES: MAINTAINING AND EXPANDING AN ACCESSIBLE NATURE TRAIL DESIGNED FOR MOBILITY-IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE USE OF ALL-TERRAIN WHEELCHAIRS FOR OUR VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, ENABLING THERAPEUTIC OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. 4.C.A.R.E. (COMMUNITY ARTS RESILIENCY ENGAGEMENT) CENTER: DELIVERING MULTIDISCIPLINARY THERAPEUTIC SERVICES THROUGH ARTS-BASED ACTIVITIES, FOSTERING EMOTIONAL WELLNESS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. 5.HORTICULTURAL WELLNESS PROGRAMS: UTILIZING GARDENING AND POLLINATOR INITIATIVES AS THERAPEUTIC AND EDUCATIONAL TOOLS, SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH, AND FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. 6.ANIMAL-ASSISTED PROGRAMS: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO ENGAGE WITH FARM ANIMALS FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND THERAPEUTIC BENEFIT, ENHANCING EMPATHY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND HUMANE EDUCATION. 7.COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT: HOSTING FUNDRAISING EVENTS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS THAT RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THE NEEDS OF MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDER FAMILIES. 8.VIRGINIA ELEMENTARY STEM LAB PARTNERSHIP: SERVING AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER WITH THE FIRST VIRGINIA ELEMENTARY STEM LAB AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SUFFOLK, SUPPORTING EARTH SCIENCES EDUCATION THROUGH INTEGRATED STEM ACTIVITIES AND CURRICULUM. COLLECTIVELY, THESE ACTIVITIES REFLECT HKF'S MISSION TO PROMOTE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AMONG THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

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 September 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 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.