Sound Off
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
TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE 47%+ OF THOSE SUFFERING WHO OTHERWISE REFUSE TO SEEK HELP FEEL CULTURALLY, BUREAUCRATICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY COMFORTABLE DOING SO. WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND PRECISELY ADDRESS THE WELL KNOWN BARRIERS TO ENTRY (WHICH PREVENT THESE MEN AND WOMEN FROM SEEKING HELP) BY CHANGING SEVERAL ELEMENTS OF THE TRADITIONAL DELIVERY OF SUPPORT, THEREBY BRINGING A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF PREVIOUSLY UNSERVED VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS INTO HELP.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 13.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 244
- Highest pay
- $231,183, 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
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $1.1 million spent. MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT - BETWEEN 19% AND 44% OF VETERANS RETURNING FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN MEET CRITERIA FOR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, SUCH AS PTSD OR DEPRESSION. YET, 47% DO NOT SEEK MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT DUE TO STIGMA, LACK OF TRUST, BUREAURACY, AND GEOGRAPHICAL CHALLENGES. SOUND OFF IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY VETERANS SEEK AND RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT VETERANS FROM ACCESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE THEY NEED.
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 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 2025.
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 February 2015.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Sound (Tukwila, WA), EIN 91-0818971. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.