Upower
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UPOWER BUILDS POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH TRAUMA-INFORMED COACHING USING MOVEMENT AND PLAY TO EMPOWER AND EDUCATE YOUTH WHO ARE UNDERSERVED.
- Income
- $913,326
- Spending
- $868,434
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 14.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 56%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 79
- Highest pay
- $127,063, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
6 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 October 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 (1)
- $690,903 spent. SINCE BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2014, WE HAVE SERVED 5,249 YOUTH. CLASSES ARE HELD AT TEN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY WA. ADDITIONALLY, UPOWER HAD TWO JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS THIS FISCAL YEAR: THE EFFECTS OF A GROUP PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAM ON BEHAVIOR OF INCARCERATED YOUTH. JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH, 0(0), 1-7.FEASIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF AT-HOME PLAY KITS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDAMEC. BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 23 (604), 1-10.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 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 October 2024.
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 February 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.