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Vigilant Torch Foundation

EIN 47-1084970 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 2009, VIGILANT TORCH SUPPORTS A UNIQUE SUBSET OF THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH HOLISTIC WELL-BEING INITIATIVES. OUR PROGRAMS, RANGING FROM MENTORSHIP AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS TO EMERGENCY RELIEF AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE TAILORED TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES OF MILITARY LIFE, TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE, AND BEYOND. WE PROVIDE PERSONALIZED RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER AND UPLIFT, MAKING US A TRUSTED, ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR THOSE WE SERVE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
12.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$50,400, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. $192,000 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS: THE TORCH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS A MERIT-BASED PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS THE EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT OF VIGILANT TORCH MEMBERS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING GRANDCHILDREN. SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS MAY BE APPLIED TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, OR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS. AWARD AMOUNTS ARE DETERMINED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE REVIEW PROCESS AND ARE CONTINGENT ON AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS. IN 2025, WE RECEIVED 80 APPLICATIONS AND AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO 65 RECIPIENTS, DISTRIBUTING $151,000 IN TOTAL. TOP SCORERS IN EACH EDUCATION CATEGORY (HIGH SCHOOL, UNDERGRADUATE, AND GRADUATE) RECEIVED $10,000, AND OUR HIGHEST OVERALL SCORER RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $5,000 MERIT AWARD. SINCE 2015, WE HAVE AWARDED 464 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $830,000, AND BY REDUCING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING, THE TORCH SCHOLARSHIP CONTINUES TO INVEST IN LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND STABILITY ACROSS THE VIGILANT TORCH COMMUNITY.
  2. $413,979 spent. PHILO PROJECT: MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY FACE ELEVATED CANCER RISK DUE TO MISSION-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES. THE PHILO PROJECT ADDRESSES THIS BY PROVIDING ELIGIBLE HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS WITH ACCESS TO A FREE, FULL-BODY MRI. THESE SCANS SCREEN FOR MORE THAN 50 TYPES OF CANCER AND OVER 300 ADDITIONAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS, MANY OF WHICH ARE ASYMPTOMATIC IN EARLY STAGES. BECAUSE THESE SCANS ARE NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES AND ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE, THIS PROGRAM FILLS A CRITICAL GAP. THE IMAGING ENABLES EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL HEALTH CONCERNS, LEADING TO INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT FOLLOW-UP CARE AND IMPROVING LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOMES AND PEACE OF MIND. IN 2025, WE FUNDED 265 SCANS, AND 20% OF THOSE SCANNED HAD UNDETECTED ISSUES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, 403 SCANS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, EACH ONE A STEP TOWARD EARLIER DETECTION AND BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH IN SERVICE TO THIS NATION.
  3. $414,639 spent. FAMILY CONNECTEDNESS: THE VIGILANT TORCH FOUNDATION SUPPORTS SERVICE MEMBERS AND FAMILIES OF OUR SELECT SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES COMMUNITY BY FUNDING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT BRING THEM TOGETHER. IN 2025, THOSE EFFORTS REACHED OVER 500 FAMILIES THROUGH DEDICATED FAMILY EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING. WE MAKE POSSIBLE THE GATHERINGS, ACTIVITIES, AND SHARED EXPERIENCES THAT BUILD LASTING BONDS AND A TRUE SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG THOSE WHO CARRY THE UNIQUE WEIGHT OF THE SOF LIFESTYLE. BECAUSE BEHIND EVERY EXCEPTIONAL OPERATOR IS A FAMILY THAT SERVES ALONGSIDE THEM, AND THEY DESERVE A COMMUNITY THAT SHOWS UP FOR THEM IN RETURN.
  4. $78,990 spent. A. MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM: THE PROGRAM OFFERS RESOURCES FOR CARE AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. WHILE VIGILANT TORCH DOES NOT PROVIDE CLINICAL TREATMENT, THE PROGRAM LEVERAGES PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP MEMBERS ACCESS APPROPRIATE MENTAL WELLNESS SERVICES. A DEDICATED PROGRAM DIRECTOR ASSISTS MEMBERS IN IDENTIFYING EXTERNAL RESOURCES AND, WHEN NEEDED, PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF CARE. THE PROGRAM TAKES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO WELLNESS, ADDRESSING A BROAD RANGE OF NEEDS, INCLUDING SERVICE DOGS, FAMILY MEDICAL BILLS, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH CARE, SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES NOT COVERED DURING ACTIVE DUTY, GRIEF SUPPORT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE CARE, FINANCIAL LITERACY, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, DISABILITY RATING GUIDANCE, AND SPECIALTY MEDICAL RESOURCES. IN 2025, THE PROGRAM SERVED 49 PARTICIPANTS, AND SINCE ITS INCEPTION, 128 INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT THROUGH THIS VITAL PROGRAM.EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: VIGILANT TORCH PROVIDES IMMEDIATE, COMPASSIONATE SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING URGENT CRISES, ENSURING THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGING TIMES WITH DIGNITY AND STABILITY. WHETHER COPING WITH THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, FINANCIAL STRAIN, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, OR URGENT HOUSING NEEDS, OUR TEAM STANDS READY TO RESPOND WITH CRITICAL AID. IN 2025, WE PROVIDED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO 26 FAMILIES, A DIRECT REFLECTION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING THERE WHEN IT MATTERS MOST.

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 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 July 2015.

    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.

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