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Guiding Light Mentoring

EIN 47-1683576 · Cincinnati, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak46 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH SKILLS AND RESOURCES TO MAKE A POSITIVE AND LASTING IMPACT IN THIER LIVES.

Income
$373,232
Spending
$270,381
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$50,000, founder & pr

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 79% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 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 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 48% 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

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 10 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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 (5)
  1. $2,711 spent. I AM ME YOUTH SUMMIT - A ONE DAY EVENT AIMED AT EMPOWERING YOUTH GRADES 7- 12 THROUGH BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND RESILIENCE TO EMBRACE WHO THEY ARE. PROGRAM ENGAGES YOU WHERE THEY INTERACT WITH GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE LEADERS. THERE WERE 19 YOUTHS AND 10 PARENT PARTICIPANTS.
  2. WE HELP ELEVATE AND EMPOWER LEARNING (W.H.E.E.L). ACADEMY PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO ENHANCE THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC WELL BEING OF YOUTH. 15 YOUTHS, 1 CONTRACTED STAFF AND 5 VOULNTEERS.
  3. $2,621 spent. YOUTH EDUCATION AND WELLNESS PROGRAM - PERSONALIZED MENTOR-MENTEE RELATIONSHIPS HELP YOUTH SET AND ACHIEVE PERSONAL, ACADEMIC AND CAREER GOALS, WITH A FOCUS ON JOB READINESS AND FAMILY DYNAMICS. THE PROGRAM PRIORITIZES THE HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF YOUTH, EXPOSING THEM TO ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ARTS AND CRAFTS, GROUP OUTINGS, DANCE AND SPORTS. 47 YOUTH, 31 VOLUNTEERS AND 4 CONTRACTED STAFF
  4. $265,049 spent. MENTORING ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SERVING YOUTH AGES 8-18 IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA BY PROVIDING POSITIVE ROLE MODELS, TEACHING RELATIONSHIP SKILLS AND HELPING DEVELOP MORAL CHARACTER.
  5. MENTORING ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SERVING YOUTH AGES 8-18 IN THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA BY PROVIDING POSITIVE ROLE MODELS, TEACHING RELATIONSHIP SKILLS AND HELPING DEVELOP MORAL CHARACTER.

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 February 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.

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.