Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of the Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation is to encourage young people to discover their character strengths and the joy of service through programs inspired by the life of Nick Fagnano. The core program: the Thrive in Joy Collective: Character, Community, College, Career; is an innovative, inclusive, peer-led after-school program for high school students from low-income communities in Los Angeles. First gen college students provide mentorship within programming that recognizes critical gaps in teen social connection by enhancing the structure, function, and quality of interaction among participants. Students network with business and community leaders and collaborate to create change on their campus and in their community. The Collective transforms elements of social isolation into social innovation. Thrive in Joys programming has also been delivered by volunteers who travel internationally to serve vulnerable populations. A legacy program, from which Thrive in Joy orig
- Income
- $453,303
- Spending
- $362,363
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 6.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 217
- Highest pay
- $54,000, executive dir.
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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 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, 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 (1)
- $220,070 spent. Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation Origin StoryMary Fagnano and her husband, Jay, founded Thrive in Joy in memory of their son Nick, a young man whose joy, heart for service, strength of character, and inclusive friendship touched everyone he met. Nick passed away at the age of 20 when a rare and unexpected lighting strike occurred at Venice Beach, CA on July 27, 2014. Nicks presence continues to be deeply felt by the students who participate in Thrive in Joys programming.The Thrive in Joy Collective ProgramRecognizing teens today are living in a world that increasingly emphasizes technology over human connection and more teens are reporting loneliness than ever before, Thrive in Joy's after-school program known as Club Thrive in Joy addresses this issue head on. The student-led program provides social interaction, self-awareness, community engagement, and preparation for what lies ahead after high school. With an eye on the future, the Club Thrive in Joy format is evolving. Renamed as the Thrive in Joy Collective: Character, Community, College, Careers; in summer of 2026, this innovative approach addresses the growing needs of the population Thrive in Joy serves, consisting of ethnically diverse high school students from low-income communities currently attending one of five partner Title I high schools throughout Los Angeles. As a student-led program, the Collective empowers teens to create supportive human connection outside of the frequently isolating framework of social media and other social determinants impacting their well-being. The Thrive in Joy Collective provides a comprehensive, research-informed approach to supporting low-income high school youth by placing a first-gen college student in the role of Advisor for each Collective. This near-peer mentorship enhances students confidence as they grow their leadership skills and set their sights on higher education and career goals working closely with someone from a similar background who has recently achieved that to which they aspire. Desired outcomes are a heightened sense of self-awareness and purpose for every student who participates resulting in students who feel connected, motivated, joyful, supported, seen, and heard.Each student in the Collective completes the 3-session C11 Strength of Character Workshop led by the Collective student Co-chairs, after which any participating student can be certified to lead the workshops for others. Collective Co-chairs also lead weekly meetings facilitating peer dialog structured around Grows (things students are working on improving) and Glows (things they are proud they have accomplished) as well as needs they identify on their campus and in their surrounding community. Collective members host hands-on service-learning projects focused on character strengths, open to all students on campus providing support for students' mental-health by integrating intentional de-stressing activities. Emphasizing leadership and career interests, students in the Collective organize speaker panels, engage in career exploration, and plan Entrepreneurial Social Impact Projects (ESIPs). Each project addresses a need the students identify in their school or community, building long-term leadership capacity and fostering a culture of service and agency. Through these ESIPs, students learn critical thinking, public speaking, teamwork, and civic engagement. Collective activities and initiatives build durable skills for life-long success by exposing students to real-world experience in networking, marketing, budgeting, project management, and outreach; while also supporting students' mental well-being and need for authentic friendships. These activities build peer-to-peer connections while creating student awareness of the meaning and value of Thrive in Joys 11 character strengths: gratitude, honesty, humility, humor, kindness, love, perseverance, perspective, spirituality, teamwork, and zest. College readiness is enhanced with professional application guidance and access to individualized college counseling leveling the playing field for first-generation college applicants whose families often cannot provide this guidance. Current data shows 100% of seniors actively involved in Thrive in Joys program attend a four-year college upon high school graduation. By equipping students with emotional resilience, community engagement, and resources for academic success, Thrive in Joy improves high school graduation rates, college enrollment, and long-term life outcomes creating a multiplier effect as students uplift their peers, families, and communities.Thrive in Joy Collective InternationalThrough a partnership with the nonprofit organization, Retail Orphan Initiative, U.S. volunteers have launched the Thrive in Joy Collective program at schools in Jeffreys Bay South Africa and at a womens learning center in Munnar, India. The Future of the Thrive in Joy Collective By replicating with other universities the work-study partnership established between Thrive in Joy and the University of Southern California (USC), the Thrive in Joy Collective has the potential to expand to more low-income high school campuses by providing the benefit of what is an essential element of the programa college student Advisor for each Collective. Future fundraising will seek support for a scalable training model provided through a digital train-the-trainer platform allowing any high school with a budget for program supplies to implement the program on their campus under the mentorship support of a first-gen college student. This model is a win-win for both the high school students and the first-gen college students who gain valuable career experience. Past Advisors come from a broad field of college degree majors- including Business, Public Policy, and NGO and Social Change.Thrive in Joy in the Dominican Republic A Thrive in Joy legacy initiative provides support for children and youth from low-income communities in the Dominican Republic
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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