Unlock Ministries Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Opportunity Tribe is a mentoring community for at-risk students to help them discover their value and thrive.
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 535
- Highest pay
- $97,877, executive director
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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, 2024, 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 (3)
- $659,360 spent. At Opportunity Camp, up to 325 students are given an amazing, Jesus focused stay away camp experience for free. 100 high school counselors and 50 adult leaders are trained in Conscious Discipline, a trauma informed care approach to mentoring young leaders. 50-60% of our camp counselors are former campers that have returned to serve on staff. 100% of former campers who serve on staff graduated high school compared to 66% of their peer class (minority students from poverty).
- $170,986 spent. Literacy Programs: Fun Academy & Oaks AcademyFun Academy is a 5 week in-town faith and literacy day camp that radically impactsstudents reading ability. 250 students from 3rd-8th grade attended this year and gained an average of 6 months of reading ability. Most students in poverty lose 2-3 months of reading comprehension each summer. This is the 7th straight year students have gained 6 months of reading ability. Oaks Academy is a micro-school with 30 students in 1st-6th grade. Students memorize over 60 scriptures each year and have gained over 2 years of reading ability each year. Students learn how to manage their emotions and keep others safe.
- $27,206 spent. Mentoring programs: Fun Clubs, Opportunity Groups, Mighty Men, Mighty Women &Parent groups. Op Tribe has been actively engaged with in-person mentoring 400+ students in year round mentoring efforts. Starting in 2nd grade, at-risk students join a small groups at public elementary schools. For the next 10 years, they learn character lessons, self-discipline and how faith changes leaders from the inside out.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.