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Cal Ripken Sr Foundation Inc

EIN 52-2310500 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CAL RIPKEN, SR. FOUNDATION HELPS TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA'S MOST UNDERSERVED AND DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES BY SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN, BUILDING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PARKS, PARTNERING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOUTH SERVICE AGENCIES, GIVING KIDS ACCESS TO STEM EDUCATION, AND ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH OUR NATIONAL PROGRAM INITIATIVES.

Income
$28.4 million
Spending
$25.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
60
Volunteers
6,014
Highest pay
$835,572, president & ceo

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 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 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    47 of 49 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

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Programming reached over 1.4 million kids.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $10.9 million spent. PROVIDE CASH AND EQUIPMENT FUNDING TO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH YOUTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ENGAGES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN THESE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES (INCLUDING THE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE) TO ACT AS MENTORS AND COACHES FOR YOUTH AS PART OF THE FOUNDATION'S "BADGES FOR BASEBALL" PROGRAM. THE GOAL IS TO DISPLAY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AS FRIENDS AND POSITIVE ROLE MODELS, NOT PEOPLE WHO YOUTH ONLY BECOME ENGAGED WITH IN TROUBLED TIMES. IN ADDITION, THROUGH OUR NATIONAL STEM INITIATIVE, WE GIVE YOUTH ACCESS TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STEM EDUCATION. IN EACH RIPKEN STEM CENTER PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL STEM PRODUCTS; TECHNOLOGY; TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS/MENTORS; CURRICULUM AND LESSON PLANS, AND FURNITURE AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  2. $8.5 million spent. DESIGN AND FACILITATE THE CREATION OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PARKS, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHICH ARE IN NEED OF A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY AND GROW. THE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD MULTI-PURPOSE, SYNTHETIC SURFACE FACILITIES THAT SERVE AS CLASSROOMS FOR MANY OF THE LESSONS THE FOUNDATION TEACHES THROUGH OUR "BADGES FOR BASEBALL AND "HEALTHY CHOICES, HEALTHY CHILDREN" CHARACTER EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THESE PARKS ARE STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE, SAFE, FUN, EDUCATIONAL AND STIMULATING FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES. EACH FACILITY IS CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE AND PLAY THERE. IN 2024, WE WERE ABLE TO IMPACT OVER 1.4 MILLION KIDS THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING.
  3. $1.4 million spent. PROVIDE A "MAJOR LEAGUE-STYLE" OVERNIGHT CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR YOUTH FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AT THE FOUNDATION'S YOUTH BASEBALL FACILITY IN ABERDEEN, MD. FOUNDATION STAFF TEACH BASEBALL THE "RIPKEN WAY" WHILE REINFORCING THE VALUES TAUGHT IN THE "HEALTHY CHOICES, HEALTHY CHILDREN" CURRICULUM. THE YOUTH ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES AT THE OVERNIGHT CAMP LOCATION INCLUDING ROPES COURSES, SWIMMING, BASKETBALL AND CHARACTER-BUILDING GAMES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO CONDUCTS MINI-CAMPS AND CLINICS AT PARTNER SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO THE BASEBALL PORTION OF THE OVERNIGHT CAMP IN ABERDEEN.

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 December 2001.

    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.