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Son of a Saint

EIN 46-5554558 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SON OF A SAINT (SOAS) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING THE NEW ORLEANS METRO AREA FORMED TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF FATHERLESS BOYS THROUGH MENTORSHIP, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SKILLS, EXPOSURE TO CONSTRUCTIVE EXPERIENCES AND FORMATION OF POSITIVE, LASTING PEER TO PEER RELATIONSHIPS.

Income
$7.1 million
Spending
$7.8 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
51
Volunteers
350
Highest pay
$297,828, 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 48% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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. $5.9 million spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - SON OF A SAINT EMPLOYS A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST TO PROVIDE EVALUATIONS AND ONGOING COUNSELING FOR MENTEES. RECREATIONAL ACCESS - SON OF A SAINT MENTEES ARE EXPOSED TO HORSEBACK RIDING, FISHING, YOGA, MUSIC, CHESS, SPORTS, THE ARTS AND MORE. EVERY BOY PARTICIPATES IN AT LEAST ONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES WEEKLY. MENTORS ALSO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE MENTEES IN THEIR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BY ATTENDING GAMES AND EVENTS. GROUP & INDIVIDUAL MENTORSHIP - REGULAR DAYLOG MENTORSHIP SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO AID MENTEES' ACADEMIC, PERSONAL AND OVERALL DEVELOPMENT. SON OF A SAINT HOSTS, ON AVERAGE, TWENTY GROUP MENTORSHIP SESSIONS PER MONTH COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS ETIQUETTE, TIME MANAGEMENT, DECISION MAKING, CRITICAL THINKING, ANGER MANAGEMENT, MORAL REASONING, LIFE SKILLS, WORK ETHIC, LEADERSHIP, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, TEAMWORK AND INTEGRITY. MENTORS AND MENTEES ATTEND FREQUENT OUTINGS SUCH AS SPORTING EVENTS, EDUCATIONAL TRIPS, MOVIES, DINING, JPARADES AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES. MOST MENTEES ARE PAIRED WITH A DEDICATED MENTOR TO FACILITATE ONGOING INDIVIDUAL MENTOR RELATIONSHIP. BROADENING OF HORIZENS - SON OF A SAINT FACILITATES TRIPS THROUGH TRAVEL GRANTS FOR GROUPS OF MENTEES. SOME OF THESE TRIPS HAVE BEEN TO WASHINGTON DC, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASHEVILLE, HOUSTON, ATLANTA, LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, DETROIT, MONTREAL, COSTA RICA, AFRICA AND MORE. TUTORING - SON OF A SAINT PAIRS MENTEES IN NEED OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT WITH QUALIFIED TUTORS. THESE VOLUNTEER EDUCATORS ARE ALL CURRENTLY NEW ORLEANS MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, FAMILIAR WITH THE BOYS' COURSEWORK. TUITION ASSISTANCE - SON OF A SAINT WORKS TO PROVIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS ALLOWING SON OF A SAINT MENTEES AND OTHERS TO ATTEND TUITION BASED SCHOOLS IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA. THIS IS PRIMARILY DONE THROUGH SON OF A SAINT SCHOLARS, A STUDENT TUITION ORGANIZATION SELECTED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHO FACILITATES THE STATE'S TUITION DONATION CREDIT PROGRAM. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - SON OF A SAINT EMPLOYS A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST TO PROVIDE EVALUATIONS AND ONGOING COUNSELING FOR MENTEES. RECREATIONAL ACCESS - SON OF A SAINT MENTEES ARE EXPOSED TO HORSEBACK RIDING, FISHING, YOGA, MUSIC, CHESS, SPORTS, THE ARTS AND MORE. EVERY BOY PARTICIPATES IN AT LEAST ONE OF THESE ACTIVITIES WEEKLY. MENTORS ALSO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE MENTEES IN THEIR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BY ATTENDING GAMES AND EVENTS. GROUP & INDIVIDUAL MENTORSHIP - REGULAR DAYLOG MENTORSHIP SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO AID MENTEES' ACADEMIC, PERSONAL AND OVERALL DEVELOPMENT. SON OF A SAINT HOSTS, ON AVERAGE, TWENTY GROUP MENTORSHIP SESSIONS PER MONTH COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS ETIQUETTE, TIME MANAGEMENT, DECISION MAKING, CRITICAL THINKING, ANGER MANAGEMENT, MORAL REASONING, LIFE SKILLS, WORK ETHIC, LEADERSHIP, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, TEAMWORK AND INTEGRITY. MENTORS AND MENTEES ATTEND FREQUENT OUTINGS SUCH AS SPORTING EVENTS, EDUCATIONAL TRIPS, MOVIES, DINING, JPARADES AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES. MOST MENTEES ARE PAIRED WITH A DEDICATED MENTOR TO FACILITATE ONGOING INDIVIDUAL MENTOR RELATIONSHIP. BROADENING OF HORIZENS - SON OF A SAINT FACILITATES TRIPS THROUGH TRAVEL GRANTS FOR GROUPS OF MENTEES. SOME OF THESE TRIPS HAVE BEEN TO WASHINGTON DC, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASHEVILLE, HOUSTON, ATLANTA, LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, DETROIT, MONTREAL, COSTA RICA, AFRICA AND MORE. TUTORING - SON OF A SAINT PAIRS MENTEES IN NEED OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT WITH QUALIFIED TUTORS. THESE VOLUNTEER EDUCATORS ARE ALL CURRENTLY NEW ORLEANS MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, FAMILIAR WITH THE BOYS' COURSEWORK. TUITION ASSISTANCE - SON OF A SAINT WORKS TO PROVIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS ALLOWING SON OF A SAINT MENTEES AND OTHERS TO ATTEND TUITION BASED SCHOOLS IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA. THIS IS PRIMARILY DONE THROUGH SON OF A SAINT SCHOLARS, A STUDENT TUITION ORGANIZATION SELECTED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHO FACILITATES THE STATE'S TUITION DONATION CREDIT PROGRAM.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2017.

    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 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 October 2017.

    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.