Kids in Focus
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Kids in Focus is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring youth to overcome adversity through the art of mentorship-based photography and life skills development.
- Income
- $335,244
- Spending
- $386,188
- Spent on programs
- 57%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Employees
- 5
- Highest pay
- $64,552, interim executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1557% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $221,870 spent. Youth Programming In 2024, our youth programs served 356 youth at no cost to them or their families. Through a mix of after-school programming, mentoring, workshops, internships, and GRADS events, youth participated in 1,006 unique experiencesfrom hands-on photography sessions to career development outings and community art exhibits. Our After School Mentoring Program provided 38 students with personalized mentorship and photography instruction over a 9-week period, including field experiences to cultural and nature-based destinations. Junior Mentors (12) developed leadership skills, with two serving as featured speakers at a national philanthropic conference. The GRADS Workshops offered continued connection for 40 youth, while the True North outdoor program brought 70 youth out of the city to explore Arizonas natural environments. We launched new service-learning partnerships with Scottsdale Community College and Chandler-Gilbert Community College, engaging KIF professional volunteers (photographers, writers, designers, and others) donated over 4,700 hours of direct service to the kids, valued at $282,000, a figure not represented in the budget. The youth served in 2021 are 55% Hispanic, 26% Black, 16% Caucasian, and 3% American Indian. 98 at-risk youth participated in multi-week programs ranging from 2 to 9 weeks each. 80 foster youth participated in two 2-day summer camps at Chauncey Ranch. 103 children and their families participated in the new annual picnic at Margaret T Hance Park. 30 kids participated in one-two day workshops. 225 youth participated in the year-round alumni program through quarterly team-building outings and monthly photo challenges with incentive prizes. 105 CFLA students participated in a school assembly led by five Junior Mentors, who worked with mentors to create the entire presentation over 5 weeks. We launched a brand new Junior Mentors Leadership Program in 2023. As part of this program, graduates of the After School program became Junior Mentors. These students participated in weekly leadership lessons and activities, and were leaders in the After School program, working with staff and volunteer photography mentors to mentor the currently enrolled students. This year, we furthered our long-standing partnership with Children First Leadership Academy, the school where Kids in Focus began over a decade ago. We continued building our relationship with partners Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation and Geneva Epps Mosley Middle School. Additionally, we developed partnerships and created programs for several new organizations, including New Pathways for Youth, G Road at Emerson Elementary, and Gigis Playhouse. KIF professional volunteers (photographers, writers, designers, and others) donated over 2,000 hours of direct service to the kids, valued at $67,000, a figure not represented in the budget. The youth served were 55% Hispanic, 26% Black, 16% Caucasian, and 3% American Indian. 53 youth participated in multi-week programs ranging from 2 to 9 weeks each. 72 foster youth participated in our True North program - full day adventures photographing in nature 2+ hours north of Phoenix. 53 kids participated in one day workshops. 119 youth participated in Grads in Focus, the year-round alumni program through quarterly team-building outings and monthly photo challenges with incentive prizes. 3 students participated in the Junior Mentors Leadership Pilot Program. 40 kids were honored at the annual Exhibit Opening, with over 250 people attending the free event to celebrate the kids accomplishments. Their inspiring images were displayed in public exhibits and permanent collections at 17 highly visible venues throughout the community, viewed by over 1 million people. These exhibits highlight the artistic achievements of our students and also raise awareness about the importance of creative expression in youth development. Ongoing training of the 90 volunteers, including 35 dedicated photography mentors, was enhanced and improved. Kids in Focus deepened our community partnerships with Arizona Science Center, Childrens Museum of Phoenix, the Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix College, and Mutoh America, and developed new partnerships with Chandler-Gilbert Community College, G Road at Emerson Elementary School, City of Phoenix Mayors Office, Repeat Ascenders, and Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.