Jason Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE JASON FOUNDATION, INC. (JFI) IS DEDICATED TO THE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT SUICIDE BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT EMPOWER STUDENTS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND THE COMMUNITY TO BE BETTER ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND ASSIST AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 25.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 37%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 99
- Highest pay
- $181,730, ceo/treas/bo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 25.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 28 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
0 of 10Did not give 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, 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 (2)
- $1.9 million spent. THE JASON FOUNDATION, INC. (JFI) IS DEDICATED TO THE PREVENTION OF THE "SILENT EPIDEMIC" OF YOUTH SUICIDE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS THAT EQUIP YOUNG PERSONS, EDUCATORS/YOUTH WORKERS AND PARENTS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO HELP IDENTIFY AND ASSIST AT-RISK YOUTH. YOUTH SUICIDE IS THE 2ND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR OUR YOUTH AGES 10-24. ONE OUT OF EVERY 11 YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR NATION REPORTED IN THE 2023 YOUTH RISK BEHAVIORAL SURVEY THAT THEY HAD "ATTEMPTED SUICIDE" IN THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS - THAT EQUATES TO AN AVERAGE OF 4,046 ATTEMPTS EACH DAY IN OUR NATION. - PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- PART III, LINE 4A - FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT (CONT): FOUNDED IN 1997 AFTER THE TRAGIC SUICIDE DEATH OF JASON FLATT - AGE 16 (JFI'S CURRENT PRESIDENT'S YOUNGEST SON), THE JASON FOUNDATION, INC. HAS BECOME ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADERS IN YOUTH SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION. JFI'S SUCCESS COMES FROM ITS UNIQUE UTILIZATION OF MAJOR IN- KIND RESOURCES THAT HELPS PROVIDE A "GRASS-ROOTS" COMMUNITY TYPE OF DELIVERY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ON A LOCAL/STATE LEVEL. SYMBOLICALLY SPEAKING, JFI'S IN-KIND RESOURCES PROVIDE THE "VEHICLE" FOR DELIVERY OF OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES NATIONALLY. JFI, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OUR OTHER FUNDING PARTNERS/RESOURCES, IS ABLE TO KEEP THE "VEHICLE" MOVING FORWARD TO PROVIDE OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVELS. AS A NATIONAL SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION ORGANIZATION, THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS DIRECTLY TO PARENTS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND OTHER GROUPS IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY SETTING CREATES MORE ACCEPTANCE FROM THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
Source: Form 990 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 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 2025.
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 November 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.