Heart of America Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE HEART OF AMERICA FOUNDATION CREATES VIBRANT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN, ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS IN ACTS OF SERVICE AND ENCOURAGING THE PURSUIT OF EDUCATION BY PROVIDING CHILDREN IN NEED WITH THE TOOLS TO READ, SUCCEED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SINCE 1997, THE ORGANIZATION HAS PROVIDED CHILDREN LIVING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITH OVER $4.2 MILLION LIBRARY AND TAKE-HOME BOOKS AND ENGAGED VOLUNTEERS IN MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION HOURS OF SERVICE TO THESE COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $17.1 million
- Spending
- $16.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 58
- Volunteers
- 2,482
- Highest pay
- $270,323, president
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 71% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
- $13.5 million spent. THE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM RENEWS COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN ENRICHING STUDENT LIVES, HELPING THEM REGAIN LOST OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING BECAUSE OF DILAPIDATED AND OUTDATED FACILITIES. THE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM TRANSFORMS SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY SPACES INTO ENGAGING LEARNING SPACES, SATURATING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS WITH NEW BOOKS. REMODELED SPACES ARE REVITALIZED WITH IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY, HIGH-QUALITY BOOKS, EDUCATION MATERIALS AND MODERN FURNITURE TO BECOME A VIBRANT LEARNING CENTER - THE NEW HEART OF A COMMUNITY.
- $1.2 million spent. RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM PUTS BOOKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND VITAL TECHNOLOGY INTO THE HANDS OF CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM THE MOST. ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS RECEIVE NEW, AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS TO REPLENISH SCHOOL, CLASSROOM AND HOME LIBRARIES. AT BOOK GIVEAWAY EVENTS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS READ TO CHILDREN AND ENGAGE IN INTER-GENERATIONAL ENRICHMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THIS PROGRAM INTRODUCES YOUNG PEOPLE TO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PROVIDES MEANINGFUL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES. IN TIMES OF DISASTER AND PANDEMICS, THE PROGRAM WORKS DIRECTLY WITH IMPACTED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS TO GET GREATLY-NEEDED SUPPLIES AND BOOKS INTO THE HANDS AND HOMES OF FAMILIES/CHILDREN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
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 2024.
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 September 1997.
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.