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Lift Inc

EIN 52-2168409 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LIFT'S MISSION IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY INVESTING IN PARENTS. WE BUILD FAMILIES' WELL-BEING, FINANCIAL STRENGTH, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS TO LIFT TWO GENERATIONS AT ONCE.

Income
$14.2 million
Spending
$10.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
24 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
92
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$333,712, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $8.0 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1998, LIFT, INC IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ON A MISSION TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY INVESTING IN PARENTS. DECADES OF INEQUITY AND UNDERINVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES HAVE KEPT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TRAPPED IN A CYCLE THAT, LIKE WEALTH, IS PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. ALL FAMILIES DESERVE A BETTER FUTURE - NO MATTER THEIR RACE, ETHNICITY, OR ZIP CODE. LIFT BUILDS FAMILIES' WELL-BEING, FINANCIAL STRENGTH, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS TO LIFT TWO GENERATIONS AT ONCE - AN INVESTMENT OF HOPE, MONEY, AND LOVE. ROOTED IN A RELATIONSHIP FILLED WITH DIGNITY AND TRUST, LIFT'S ONE-ON-ONE COACHING PROGRAM EMPOWERS PARENTS TO SET AND ACHIEVE GOALS - SUCH AS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, IMPROVING CREDIT, ELIMINATING DEBT, OR SECURING A LIVING WAGE THAT PUT THEIR FAMILIES ON THE PATH TO (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ECONOMIC MOBILITY. AS PART OF ITS INVESTMENT IN FAMILIES, IN 2018, LIFT LAUNCHED THE FAMILY GOAL FUND WHICH PROVIDES DIRECT, UNRESTRICTED CASH TO FAMILIES. LIFT REDUCES STRESS AND INCREASES FINANCIAL SLACK BY GIVING CASH DIRECTLY TO PARENTS SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR EMERGENCY NEEDS AND LONG-TERM GOALS. AS PARENTS PERSIST THROUGH LIFT'S TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, THEY RECEIVE A TOTAL OF $1,200, DISTRIBUTED IN THREE-MONTH INTERVALS TO STAY ON TRACK TO REACH THEIR GOALS. LIFT BELIEVES THAT PARENTS KNOW THEIR FAMILIES' NEEDS BETTER THAN ANY PROGRAM COULD, AND THEIR EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT PARENTS USE THESE FUNDS TO REINVEST IN THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR GOALS. LIFT'S DIRECT SERVICE COACHING MODEL OPERATING IN CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, AND WASHINGTON D.C. CHANGES LIVES. AND, NOW THROUGH NEW, SUCCESSFUL CAPACITY-BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS, WE ARE POISED TO SHIFT HOW SOCIAL SERVICE AND OTHER SYSTEMS FUNCTION FOR THE MILLIONS OF FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY NATIONWIDE. OUR SYSTEMS CHANGE GOALS STEM FROM THE HUMANITY THAT UNDERPINS OUR DIRECT SERVICE MODEL AS THE FOUNDATION FROM WHERE WE GENERATE OUR LEARNING, INSIGHTS, BEST PRACTICE, AND RESPONSIVE INNOVATIONS LIKE GIVING CASH. LIFT USES IMPACT DATA ALONGSIDE PARENT VOICE AND EXPERIENCE TO MITIGATE, AND ULTIMATELY CHANGE, THE ACTIONS OF SYSTEMS AND POLICIES THAT DRAIN HOPE, HARM COMMUNITIES, AND LIMIT ACCESS AND SUCCESS. AT FEDERAL, STATE, AND CITY LEVELS, OUR GOALS INCLUDE CHANGING PRACTICE, SYSTEMS, AND POLICIES THAT BUILD FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR FAMILIES. LIFT'S STRATEGIC PLAN BUILDS ON OUR DIRECT SERVICE TO ACHIEVE POPULATION-LEVEL IMPACT THROUGH 1) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT EFFECTIVELY SHIFT PUBLIC SECTOR PRACTICE TO BETTER SUPPORT PARENT'S ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND 2) ADVOCACY WORK TO SHIFT NARRATIVES, EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS, AND PROMOTE POLICIES THAT REDUCE POVERTY.LIFT HAS SERVICE SITES IN CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK CITY, AND WASHINGTON D.C., AND PARTNERS WITH HEALTH SYSTEMS, COLLEGES, EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS, AND LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADOPT ITS APPROACH ACROSS THE COUNTRY. LEARN MORE AT WHYWELIFT.ORG

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.