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Stephen C Rose Legacy Foundation

EIN 47-4730275 · Olney, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION IS A LEADING NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THE STEVE FUND'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY TRANSITION FROM ADOLESCENCE INTO HIGHER EDUCATION, THROUGHOUT THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE, AND AS THEY TRANSITION INTO THE WORKFORCE SO THEY CAN ATTAIN PERSONAL, ACADEMIC, AND CAREER SUCCESS AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE STEVE FUND WORKS WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, NONPROFITS, RESEARCHERS, MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS, FAMILIES, AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT BUILD UNDERSTANDING AND ASSISTANCE FOR THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF THE NATION'S UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
26.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
13
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$197,372, executive director thru 8/9/24

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
  1. $2.0 million spent. TRANSFORMING ENVIRONMENTS:THE STEVE FUND TRANSFORMS EDUCATIONAL, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS SO THAT THEY ENHANCE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF ALL YOUNG PEOPLE.THROUGH THIS WORK, OVER 500K+ YOUNG PEOPLE AND MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS WERE REACHED THROUGH PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS. FIFTY CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN OUR EXCELLENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH ON CAMPUS INITIATIVE. THE STEVE FUND SUPPORTS NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP AND STAFF WITH WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS FACILITATED BY MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS, AND IT FORMS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO REACH NEW AUDIENCES AND INSTITUTIONS. DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENGAGED ANNUALLY. FIFTEEN WORKPLACES HAVE PILOTED OUR SERVICES TO ADVANCE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG YOUNG EMPLOYEES THROUGH DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS THROUGH DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOPS, CONVENINGS, AND ONLINE PROGRAMMING. FOR HIGH SCHOOLS WE CONDUCT WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, PEER SUPPORT GROUPS, WELLNESS CIRCLES AND PROVIDE ASYNCHRONOUS RESOURCES.
  2. $807,604 spent. PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SKILLBUILDING DIRECTLY TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES:THE STEVE FUND PROVIDES RESOURCES AND SKILL BUILDING DIRECTLY TO UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING SO THEY CAN ATTAIN PERSONAL, ACADEMIC, AND CAREER SUCCESS AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.BECAUSE ADOLESCENT HELP-SEEKING OFTEN REQUIRES ADULT "GATEKEEPERS" TO FACILITATE ENTRY INTO CARE, THE WAYS IN WHICH PARENTS AND CARETAKERS PERCEIVE MENTAL ILLNESS IMPACTS THE HELP-SEEKING OF YOUNG PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. ACCORDINGLY, THE STEVE FUND INVESTS IN CREATION AND DIGITAL DISSEMINATION OF ENGAGING, IMPACTFUL, AND COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES / CAREGIVERS.SUPPORTED BY OUR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, WE USE A SUSTAINABLE, QUALITY-CONTROLLED PROCESS AND CADENCE OF PRODUCTION ENSURING THAT TIMELY AND HIGHLY RELEVANT MATERIALS AND OTHER RESOURCES ADDRESSING THE MOST SALIENT MENTAL HEALTH RISKS FACING OUR POPULATION ARE AVAILABLE ON A REAL-TIME BASIS TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.IN ADDITION, THE STEVE FUND OFFERS DIRECT PROGRAMMING TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES THROUGH ITS WORK WITH EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS; THIS ENABLES THE STEVE FUND TO KEEP ITS PULSE ON THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.
  3. $702,264 spent. SHAPING THE FIELD:WE SHAPE THE FIELD TO DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS AND BROAD DELIVERY OF HIGH-QUALITY SUPPORTS FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE.THOSE IN A POSITION TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE (E.G., HIGHER ED, NONPROFIT, AND WORKPLACE LEADERS AND STAFF, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS, POLICYMAKERS AND ADVOCATES, THE MEDIA) ARE INCREASINGLY IN NEED OF GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES AND CLARITY ON SOLUTIONSTHE STEVE FUND LEVERAGES A REFINED SET OF APPROACHES TO LEAD THESE KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO TAKE ACTION: BY HOSTING ANNUAL CONFERENCES/CONVENINGS; CONDUCTING NATIONAL SURVEY ON THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE; CREATING HIGH-QUALITY DATA AND INSIGHTS TO GENERATE CREDIBLE, CONSISTENT THOUGHT LEADERSHIP; RAISING AWARENESS BY "GRABBING THE MIC; AND AMPLIFYING YOUTH VOICE. THESE ACTIVITIES INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELEVANT ISSUES AND CLARITY ON THE SOLUTIONS, EQUIPPING STAKEHOLDERS TO TAKE ACTION, INVEST IN ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES, AND KNOW WHAT TO INVEST IN TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE. OUR REACH AND IMPACT IN 2024: 2.1MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE REACHED THROUGH OUR WORK WITH FAMILIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WORKPLACES AND NONPROFITS. OVER 120 PLUS PARTNERSHIPS FORGED WITH HIGH SCHOOLS, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND WORKPLACES. WE REACHED A GOAL OF OVER 10,000 CONVERSATIONS HELD THROUGH "TEXTING STEVE" THROUGH THE CRISIS TEXT LINE. THE STEVE FUND HELD THREE NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND REACHED THE MILESTONE OF FIFTY CAMPUS PARTICIPANTS IN OUR CAMPUS MENTAL HEALTH ON CAMPUS INITIATIVE.
  4. EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS: THE STEVE FUND HELD WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO MAINTAIN POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH. WORKSHOPS WERE CO-LED BY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS TO EXPLORE MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS AND ENCOURAGE UTILIZATION OF RESOURCES AND SUPPORT BY PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION, THE STEVE FUND DELIVERED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUPS LED BY PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS.

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

  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 2024.

    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 January 2016.

    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.