Pivotal Connections
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE IN AND FROM FOSTER CARE REALIZE THEIR EDUCATION GOALS BY PROVIDING TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC COACHING, COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CAREER READINESS SUPPORT.
- Income
- $4.5 million
- Spending
- $4.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 29.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $233,160, ceo
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: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 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 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)
- $1.2 million spent. POST-SECONDARY COACHING & SCHOLARSHIPS: FOCUSED ON IMPROVING LIFE OUTCOMES FOR CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH SCHOLARS AS THEY ENROLL IN POST-SECONDARY DEGREE OR CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS AND LOOK AHEAD TO CAREER POSSIBILITIES. COACHES HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, ACCESS RESOURCES, AND MAINTAIN FOCUS ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS. SCHOLARS ALSO WORK WITH COACHES TO BUILD THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, AND AS THEY APPROACH GRADUATION, BUILD THEIR RESUMES, INTERVIEW SKILLS, AND RESEARCH AND APPLY FOR POTENTIAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
- $1.1 million spent. MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL COACHING: INTENSIVE, ONE-ON-ONE SERVICES AND ACADEMIC COACHING FOR FOSTER YOUTH STARTING AS EARLY AS THE 8TH GRADE. COACHES MEET REGULARLY WITH THE YOUTH ON THEIR ROSTERS TO CHECK IN ON ACADEMIC PROGRESS, IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO SUCCESS, DEFINE AND STICK TO A PLAN FOR GRADUATION, AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCCESS SKILLS. AS SCHOLARS PROGRESS THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, COACHES ALSO PROVIDE COLLEGE EXPLORATION SUPPORT INCLUDING APPLICATION AND MATRICULATION SUPPORT, COLLEGE TOURS, FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP RESEARCH.
- $140,531 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CAREER READINESS: SCHOLARS BUILD THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS THROUGH CAREER-FOCUSED COACHING, WORKSHOPS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND RESOURCES FOR PART- AND FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND INTERNSHIPS. THE ORGANIZATION'S CORPORATE PARTNERS HOST CAREER DAYS FOR SCHOLARS WHICH ALLOW THEM TO LEARN ABOUT THE VARIETY OF CAREER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM, LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS, AND BUILD THEIR NETWORKING SKILLS. CLOSER TO GRADUATION, SCHOLARS AND COACHES WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD THEIR RESUMES, HONE INTERVIEW SKILLS, RESEARCH AND APPLY FOR POTENTIAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
- $408,224 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS
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 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 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 February 1989.
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.