Shadow Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE SHADOW PROJECT IS TO MAKE SCHOOL MORE ACCESSIBLE AND ENGAGING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, SO THEY CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. SINCE 2003, THE SHADOW PROJECT HAS SUPPORTED OVER 20,000 STUDENTS IMPACTED BY AUTISM, ADHD, (CONTINUED ON SCH O) DYSLEXIA AND OTHER LEARNING CHALLENGES TO IMPROVE THEIR READING SKILLS, BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND SHATTER MYTHS ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE CAPABLE OF. STUDENTS IN THE SHADOW PROJECT HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME CLASSROOM LEADERS, READING CHAMPIONS, AND THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $855,084
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 62
- Highest pay
- $95,736, executive director
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $633,987 spent. THE SHADOW PROJECT EXISTS TO MAKE LEARNING MORE ACCESSIBLE AND ENGAGING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, SO THEY CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE WORK WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO STRENGTHEN SKILLS, FOSTER AUTONOMY, AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POSITIVE SELF-IDENTITY FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING, ATTENTION, OR BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY DYSLEXIA, ADHD, AUTISM AND TRAUMA. SINCE 2003, WE HAVE HELPED MORE THAN 20,000 CAPABLE STUDENTS DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR SCHOOL AND LIFE SUCCESS, INCLUDING GOAL-SETTING, PERSEVERANCE, AND EMOTIONAL AWARENESS. WE SERVE STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WHO FACE MULTIPLE COMPLEX BARRIERS TO SUCCESS, INCLUDING RACISM AND ABLEISM. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)WE ENVISION AN EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT NORMALIZES AND CELEBRATES LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND SUPPORTS EVERY STUDENT TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL. OUR ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLS AND STRATEGIES TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES. WE SUPPORT EDUCATORS IN INTEGRATING THESE RESOURCES INTO THEIR CURRICULA AND BUILDING THEIR SKILL SETS FOR PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED, NEUROINCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:WITH OREGON SCHOOLS STRUGGLING TO HELP STUDENTS RECOVER FROM DISRUPTED LEARNING DURING COVID, SHADOW PROJECT PROGRAMS HELPED 2,720 STUDENTS AT 69 SCHOOLS TO JOYFULLY TAKE OWNERSHIP OVER THEIR LEARNING. SHADOW PROJECT MENTORS PROVIDED 373 HOURS OF SUPPORT TO STUDENTS READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL, FUELING THEIR CONFIDENCE AND ENGAGEMENT IN SCHOOL. STUDENTS RECEIVED OVER 430 HOURS OF SENSORY AND BODY AWARENESS SUPPORT TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR REGULATION NEEDS. SHADOW PROJECT STAFF TRAINED 157 EDUCATORS IN TRAUMA-INFORMED, NEUROINCLUSIVE STRATEGIES TO INTEGRATE SENSORY AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT INTO SCHOOL ROUTINES. STUDENTS RECEIVED OVER 25,400 BOOKS, SENSORY TOOLS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. TEACHERS USING OUR PROGRAMS REPORT THE IMPACT OF THESE SUPPORTS: 70% OF STUDENTS INCREASED SELF-MOTIVATION; 65% OF STUDENTS IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS IN MANAGING EMOTIONS; 60% OF STUDENTS SHOWED GREATER ENTHUSIASM FOR READING.
- GOAL SETTING (2,410 STUDENTS IN 58 SCHOOLS):STUDENTS EARN EDUCATIONAL REINFORCERS (BOOKS, SENSORY TOOLS, SCHOOL/ART/WRITING SUPPLIES) TO CELEBRATE PROGRESS MADE TOWARD ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL GOALS THEY SET FOR THEMSELVES, SUCH AS READING FOR 15 MINUTES A DAY, TURNING IN HOMEWORK, OR IMPROVING ATTENDANCE. THIS TEACHES SELF-SUFFICIENCY, CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, AND PERSEVERANCE, AND LEADS TO GREATER SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC CONFIDENCE.
- READING MENTORS (94 STUDENTS IN 8 SCHOOLS):HELPS IMPROVE THE READING SKILLS OF STUDENTS READING BELOW GRADE LEVEL BY PAIRING THEM WITH A CARING ADULT MENTOR WHO COACHES THEM IN THE USE OF A SPECIALIZED ASSISTIVE READING TECHNOLOGY. STUDENTS CAN SEE AND HEAR WORDS AS THEY READ, HELPING THEM BUILD VOCABULARY, COMPREHENSION, AND KNOWLEDGE. MENTORS PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT WHEN A STUDENT STUMBLES AND TEACH THEM THAT IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.
- SUPERSENSORY SPACES (129 STUDENTS IN 7 SCHOOLS):DESIGNATED BREAKOUT ROOMS THAT HELP CHILDREN WITH LEARNING, ATTENTION, OR BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES DEVELOP SKILLS TO MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS SO THEY CAN REMAIN CONNECTED TO THEIR CLASSROOMS, ADVOCATE FOR THEIR NEEDS, AND FEEL INCLUDED AT SCHOOL, AS THEY MOVE TOWARDS MEETING IMPORTANT BENCHMARKS. THE ROOMS HELP STUDENTS REBUILD THEIR SENSE OF SAFETY AND EXERCISE THEIR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL MUSCLES.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 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 March 2003.
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 November 4, 2026.
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