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Special Operations Association Foundation

EIN 47-1679461 · Avon Park, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Special Operations Association Foundation supports Special Operations veterans and active-duty members, along with their families and survivors. The goals are to support the educational awards program, provide emotional support to family members through the Auxiliary Committee, address critical needs of special operators and their family during financial hardship, and support outreach and educational opportunities through the Agent Orange Legacy project.

Income
$169,525
Spending
$105,858
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
15 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
75

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 85% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 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 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 138% 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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.

  • 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. $50,000 spent. - $50,000 DONATION TO THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS ASSOCIATION, A 501 ( c ) 19 ORGANIZATI0N (EIN 74-2619854) IN SUPPORT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM. THIS DONATION IS TO HELP THE DEPENDENTS OF CURRENT AND FORMER SPECIAL OPERATORS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH IN THE DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY. THE DONATION IS DESIGNED TO AID THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO ATTEND A TRADE OR VOCATIONAL PROGRAM INSTEAD OF A TRADITIONAL COLLEGE PATHWAY, WITH AWARDS DETERMINED BY THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE. THOUGH NOT RESTRICTED, THE MONEY WILL AUGMENT THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM THAT WAS BEGUN IN 1983 AND HAS SINCE AWARDED $453,000 TO OVER 141 DESERVED YOUNG SCHOLARS.
  2. $20,000 spent. $20,000 DONATION TO THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS ASSOCIATION, A 501 ( c ) 19 ORGANIzaTI0N (EIN 74-2619854 in support of the Len and Nancy Fein STEM scholarship award to aid the dependents of Special Operators as they pursue a degree in a STEM discipline. Over the past previous two years a total of $24,000 in awards were given, having a financial impact on those attending college.
  3. $20,000 spent. $20,000 DONATION TO THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS ASSOCIATION (SOA), A 501 ( c ) 19 ORGANIZATI0N (EIN 74-2619854) TO SUPPORT THE SOA VIDEO HISTORY PROJECT, PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF THE SOA MEMBERS. THROUGH VIDEO INTERVIEWS, THE LONG HISTORY OF SPECIAL OPERATORS WILL BE PRESERVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS PROGRAM HAS NOT ONLY CREATED A REPOSIT OF EXPERIENCES, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND SACRIFICES, BUT HAS ALSO HELPED THOSE OPERATORS WHO WERE AFFORDED A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORIES, THUS FULFILLING ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION IN ADDRESSING THE WELL BEING OF THE SPECIAL OPERATORS.
  4. $15,858 spent. Other Service Expenses

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Special Operations Warrior Foundation (Tampa, FL), EIN 52-1183585. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.