Momentous Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE IS DEDICATED TO INNOVATIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING TO STRENGTHEN CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES, AND ENVISIONS A WORLD OF EMOTIONALLY THRIVING PEOPLE REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. FOUNDED IN 1920 BY SALESMANSHIP CLUB OF DALLAS, MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN STRENGTHS- AND SYSTEMS-BASED YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, TODAY PROVIDING NEARLY 13,000 SESSIONS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PARENT EDUCATION TO OVER 2,500 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EACH YEAR. SINCE 1997, THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO OPERATED A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH 248 STUDENTS THAT INTEGRATES MENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS WITH RICH ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, LEADING TO EXCEPTIONAL LONG-TERM STUDENT OUTCOMES.
- Income
- $18.8 million
- Spending
- $16.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 149
- Volunteers
- 392
- Highest pay
- $349,948, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 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 October 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 (4)
- $5.6 million spent. MOMENTOUS SCHOOL- MOMENTOUS SCHOOL INTEGRATES MENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS WITH RICH ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, LEADING TO EXCEPTIONAL LONG-TERM STUDENT OUTCOMES. IT PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY PRE-KINDERGARTEN, CHILDREN AGES 3 YEARS OLD THROUGH FIFTH GRADE EDUCATION FOCUSED ON BUILDING STRONG EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SKILLS FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS. MOMENTOUS SCHOOL'S CULTURE OF CREATING A POSITIVE STUDENT-CENTERED ENVIRONMENT BASED ON SAFE RELATIONSHIPS REMAINED AT THE CORE OF ALL PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. TEACHERS CONTINUED TO TRAIN ON UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON THE BRAIN LEARNING HOW TO RECOGNIZE SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA AND USING STRATEGIES TO HELP CHILDREN SELF-REGULATE AND BUILD PERSISTENCE. (EXPENSES $ 807,497 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 0)(REVENUE $ 0) RESEARCH - MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT INVESTING IN RESEARCH TO DIRECTLY REACH MORE CHILDREN WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED STRATEGIES THAT STRENGTHEN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH. EACH YEAR, MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE FOLLOWS MOMENTOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS' LONG-TERM TRAJECTORIES AND TRACKS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF THERAPY CLIENTS AND PARENT EDUCATION PARTICIPANTS. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND MENTORING SUPPORT FOR FORMER MOMENTOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CLIENTS AS THEY PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. PROGRAM RESULTS AND OUTCOMES ARE REPORTED AND ANALYZED ANNUALLY WITH THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE AND THEN WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
- $5.4 million spent. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES- PROVIDES STRENGTHS- AND SYSTEMS-BASED YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, TODAY PROVIDING NEARLY 13,000 SESSIONS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PARENT EDUCATION TO OVER 2,500 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EACH YEAR. HIGH-QUALITY, TRAUMA INFORMED CARE IS AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING WE DO AT MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE. EACH YEAR, OUR TEAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC, LOW BARRIER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOCUSED ON SYSTEMIC CARE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND STRENGTH-BASED INTERVENTIONS. WE INTENTIONALLY OFFER THESE SERVICES IN-PERSON OR VIRTUALLY, THROUGH A VARIETY OF TREATMENT APPROACHES INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, GROUP, OR PLAY.
- $1.4 million spent. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING - MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE'S PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS PROVIDE TANGIBLE, PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTING MENTAL HEALTH INFORMED LEARNING TO ENHANCE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF A CHILD OR ADULTS WORKING WITH CHILDREN THROUGH VIRTUAL, ON-DEMAND AND IN-PERSON TRAINING SESSIONS. OUR TEAM CONTINUOUSLY STRIVES TO CHAMPION MENTAL HEALTH INFORMED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING BY DIRECTLY SERVING ADULT PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND OVERALL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN TYPICALLY BEYOND OUR REACH. OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE HAS STRATEGICALLY INVESTED IN TRAINING, COACHING, AND CONSULTATION OF OVER 3,000 PROFESSIONALS EACH YEAR. OUR EXPERT TEAM PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED CONTENT, TRAINING, AND CONSULTATION TO PROMOTE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN BOTH SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL SETTINGS, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF ADULTS, INCLUDING PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, EDUCATORS, YOUTH PROFESSIONALS, AND WORKPLACE LEADERS. OUR FLAGSHIP PRODUCT, THE MENTAL HEALTH-INFORMED CHANGEMAKERS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CURRICULUM FOR PRE-K THROUGH 5TH GRADE, IS NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED, FULLY ACCREDITED AND USED IN 34 STATES ACROSS THE U.S., AS WELL AS IN ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CANADA, GERMANY, INDIA, TURKEY, VIETNAM AND ZAMBIA, IMPACTING MORE THAN 80,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY WORLDWIDE. (EXPENSES $ 807,497 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 0)(REVENUE $ 0) RESEARCH - MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT INVESTING IN RESEARCH TO DIRECTLY REACH MORE CHILDREN WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED STRATEGIES THAT STRENGTHEN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH. EACH YEAR, MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE FOLLOWS MOMENTOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS' LONG-TERM TRAJECTORIES AND TRACKS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF THERAPY CLIENTS AND PARENT EDUCATION PARTICIPANTS. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND MENTORING SUPPORT FOR FORMER MOMENTOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CLIENTS AS THEY PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. PROGRAM RESULTS AND OUTCOMES ARE REPORTED AND ANALYZED ANNUALLY WITH THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE AND THEN WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
- $807,497 spent. RESEARCH - MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT INVESTING IN RESEARCH TO DIRECTLY REACH MORE CHILDREN WITH TRAUMA-INFORMED STRATEGIES THAT STRENGTHEN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH. EACH YEAR, MOMENTOUS INSTITUTE FOLLOWS MOMENTOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS' LONG-TERM TRAJECTORIES AND TRACKS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF THERAPY CLIENTS AND PARENT EDUCATION PARTICIPANTS. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND MENTORING SUPPORT FOR FORMER MOMENTOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CLIENTS AS THEY PURSUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. PROGRAM RESULTS AND OUTCOMES ARE REPORTED AND ANALYZED ANNUALLY WITH THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE AND THEN WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 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 October 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 September 1932.
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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