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Wounded Heroes Fund Kern County Chapter

EIN 80-0215850 · Bakersfield, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND MORAL SUPPORT TO ACTIVE, DISCHARGED AND RETIRED MILITARY SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, WITH EMPHASIS ON THOSE INJURED IN THE IRAQ AND AFGANISTAN CONFLICTS.

Income
$344,828
Spending
$348,745
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$64,688, executive dir.

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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $285,974 spent. MISSION PROGRAMS: HOSTS PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR VETERANS AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THE PROGRAMS ARE DISGNED TO CARRY OUT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION BY ASSISTING VETERANS WITH THE TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE. THE CURRENT PROGAMS OFFERED ARE: DATE NIGHTS, FAMILY BUILDING, EQUINE THERAPY, COUPLE RETREATS, AND OUTDOOR RETREATS.
  2. VETERAN GRANTS: THE GRANT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE ROBUST AND MEET THE VARYING NEEDS OF OUR WOUNDED AND RETURNING VETERANS. THE GRANTS MAY BE USED FOR PAYING BILLS, ATTENDING SCHOOL, PURCHASING SCHOOL BOOKS, OR PAYING MEDICAL BILLS.
  3. OUTREACH PROGRAMS: WOUNDED HEROES FUND (WHF) ATTENDS VARIOUS EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO GAIN THE ATTENTION OF THE LOCAL SERVICE MEMBERS. BY PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL EVENTS WHF CAN BRING AWARENESS TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY OF THE OGRANIZATION'S SERVICES.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.