Total Courage Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE CHARACTER BASED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO CHURCH GROUPS, CHURCH LEADERS, SECONDARY SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COACHES, STUDENT-ATHLETES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THE GOAL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO REINFORCE TO YOUTH, STUDENT-ATHLETES AND THE COMMUNITY, THE VALUE OF LEADING A PRINCIPLED LIFE. OUR EMPHASIS IS ON PROVIDING AT-RISK YOUTH, AND THE COACHES WHO COACH THEM, WITH THE RESOURCES TO USE SPORTS TO LEARN LIFE LESSONS. OUR CHARACTER COACHES ACT AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES FROM DISADVANTAGED FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SITUATIONS. OUR CHARACTER COACHES GIVE THE COACHES, TEACHERS, AND STUDENT ATHLETES THE TOOLS TO MAKING THEMSELVES BETTER, MAKING THEIR TEAMMATES BETTER, AND LEARNING THE BENEFITS OF LIVING A LIFE OF CHARACTER.
- Income
- $74,440
- Spending
- $71,546
- Reserves
- 8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Highest pay
- $54,180, president & exec. director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
- $23,073 spent. PROVIDE CHARACTER COACHING FOR HIGH-SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENT ATHLETES. LEADING WITH CHARACTER PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. RESEARCH AND WRITING "WHO WILL CALL YOU" BOOK FOR PUBLICATION. PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTE TOTAL COURAGE INSTITUTE PLAYBOOK TO COACHES AND ATHLETIC DIRECTORS FOR USE BY STUDENT-ATHLETES.
- $34,146 spent. HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, INCLUDING FOOD, CRITICAL SUPPLIES, AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES IN AREAS SUBJECT TO RUSSIAN AND OTHER AGGRESSION, WITH AN EMPHASIS IN THE BALKAN COUNTRIES AND ISRAEL. RELIEF PROGRAMS ARE BEING ADMINISTERED IN-COUNTRY THROUGH THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS. PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES IMPACTED BY HURRICANES AND TORNADOES, INCLUDING PROVIDING EMERGENCY SUPPLIES, CASES OF WATER, FOOD, HYGIENE SUPPLIES, AND POWER TOOLS. ALL THROUGH VOLUNTEERS.
- $13,398 spent. "RESCUING DOGS TO SAVE VETS" PROGRAM CONSISTS OF VOLUNTEER LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS, EXPERIENCED ANIMAL TRAINERS, VETERINARY TECHNICIANS AND OVER 300 CANINE RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS AND ANIMAL SHELTERS NATIONWIDE. THE KEY DIFFERENTIATOR OVER SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS IS MATCHING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT CANINES FROM SHELTERS AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS WITH VETERANS IN ORDER TO SAVE TWO LIVES WITH EACH MATCH, THE VETERAN AND THE DOG. SADLY, MANY NONPROFITS FORCE HIGH-END, EXPENSIVE BREEDS ON VETERANS WHO ARE UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEM WHEN THEY ACTUALLY NEED AN AGE APPROPRIATE OR BEHAVIOR APPROPRIATE COMPANION. 22 VETERANS COMMIT SUICIDE EVERY DAY IN THE UNITED STATES. WHAT MOST AMERICANS DON'T REALIZE IS THAT THE PREPONDERANCE OF THESE VICTIMS ARE 70 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. MANY ARE VIETNAM VETERANS THAT SUFFER FROM LONELINESS OR ISOLATION AND PTSD CREEPS BACK IN CREATING A FEELING OF HOPELESSNESS. OUR SELECTED AND TRAINED CANINES FILL THAT GAP.ONCE THE VETERAN OR FIRST RESPONDER AND THE CANINE ARE MATCHED, WE PRACTICE THE 3-3-3 TECHNIQUE WHEREUPON WE CHECK IN ON THE THIRD DAY, THIRD WEEK AND THIRD MONTH WITH A SELECTED TEAM OF SOCIAL WORKERS, TRAINERS AND VET TECHS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRANSITION IS TRULY SERVING OUR VETERANS IN NEED.WE ALSO RESCUE DOGS AND TRAIN THEM TO BE SEARCH AND RESCUE DOGS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. THESE DOGS ARE TRAINED AND FOSTERED BY VETERANS FROM THE ARMY K-9 UNIT.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 January 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.
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.