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Gardere Initiative Inc

EIN 47-1391639 · Baton Rouge, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Our mission is to provide children and families throughout the Gardere Community with fundamental services and resources that are ultimately unavailable to them. Through spiritual intervention, local partnerships and selfless volunteering, we touch the lives of many individuals that strive for the same opportunities as surrounding Baton Rouge areas, to learn, to grow and to succeed. To address substance abuse and other social ills in the Gardere area that adversely affect the children, neighboring subdivisions and the city in general through collaboration, partnership and Spiritual intervention

Income
$481,962
Spending
$432,446
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
2
Volunteers
277

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 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 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (9)
  1. $10,059 spent. Meals served (days of all holiday programs) We provide a substantial snack during the afterschool and holiday programs. Breakfast and lunch are provided during the 8-week summer program. We also provide meals at all of our annual events. (Served 18,220 Meals)
  2. $33,000 spent. Average Daily Attendance in Afterschool and Summer Programs 68 Children and 13 Parents, 87
  3. $43,000 spent. Amount saved on childcare for families: (10$/hr): Children from 3 years and up attend our several programs ensuring parents that their children are in a healthy and safe environment. Helping families get kids into school. Impacted 55 Children.
  4. $58,134 spent. Youth Employed- : We provide a 9-month afterschool program, 8-weeks summer program and activities for major holidays when children are out of school.
  5. $58,500 spent. Partnerships with ___ organizations, extending the opportunity for _50__ - Youth are exposed to college experience while experiencing the gift of mentorship with law enforcement professionals. Within the past year we developed partnerships with ___ organizations, extending the opportunity for ______ - Youth are exposed to college experience while experiencing the gift of mentorship with law enforcement professionals. 50 Partners for 91 Youth
  6. $61,743 spent. Rent/Utilities/Healthcare, Through a funding from Capitol Area United Way, we are able to assist families with rent, utilities, and healthcare. -Service Hours (connecting youth to caring adults). Students are LSU and Southern University as well as community adults interact with our middle and high school students during the 9-month afterschool program and 8-week summer program. 540 hours/week - Increasing physical activity/safe access to outdoors: 240 Hours 2552 Hours
  7. $60,000 spent. Helping Adults with Financial Literacy . Funding from the Wilson Foundation helps us to provide financial literacy and support for emergencials to Asset Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed families to gain stable incomes. 381.6 Hours
  8. $18,010 spent. Brought 80 children to two weeks of swim lessons. - Swim Lessons
  9. $90,000 spent. Resource Referrals: Throughout year, estimate: the movement of new people moving into the community that use our services to navigate the court, social service, school systemes and others as needed. About 317 Helping families get kids into schools: we assist newly arrived families to enroll their children in the EBRPSS. Our staff, Martha Espinoza was recently certified via EBRPSS to be a registered -

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 June 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 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.