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Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation a California Public Benefit Corp

EIN 80-0636157 · El Cajon, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE EDUCATE STUDENTS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, COACHES, & OTHERS WORKING WITH YOUTH ABOUT SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST. WE ADVOCATE FOR CARDIAC PREVENTION THROUGH RISK ASSESSMENTS, FREE HEART SCREENINGS, CPR/AED TRAINING, AED PLACEMENT & CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS IN SCHOOLS.

Income
$271,198
Spending
$343,440
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
24.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
2
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$100,350, co-executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $240,476 spent. THE ERIC PAREDES SAVE A LIFE FOUNDATION IS VISUALIZING INITIATIVES TO STANDARDIZE PREVENTION OF SCA IN YOUTH IN THE PEDIATRICIAN'S OFFICE, ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM. LEVERAGING THE ROBUST COLLABORATIONS WE'VE CREATED WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND TENURE WE'VE EARNED IN THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, OUR SCA INTERVENTION PROGRAMS MODEL HOW TO DRIVE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN SCA HEALTH LITERACY AND PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PREVENTION PRACTICES. WE ARE DEVELOPING HEART SAFE SPORTS COMMUNITIES WITH OUR KEEP THEIR HEART IN THE GAME SCA PREVENTION COURSES; PROVIDING FREE ACCREDITED MEDICAL TRAINING THROUGH PRESCRIPTION FOR PREVENTION: CARDIAC RISK ASSESSMENT IN PRIMARY CARE; EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LIFE-SAVERS WITH FREE SMART HEARTS DON'T MISS A BEAT CURRICULUM; AND EVOLVING PREVENTION POLICY BY SPONSORING STATE LAWS THAT ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN THE STANDARD OF CARE.
  2. $54,610 spent. SCREEN YOUR TEEN PROVIDES FREE HEART SCREENINGS TO YOUTH AGES 12 TO 25 TO IDENTIFY CARDIAC ABNORMALITIES THAT PUT 1 IN 300 AT RISK FOR SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST (SCA). HEART SCREENINGS ARE NOT PART OF WELL-CHILD CHECKUPS OR PRE-PARTICIPATION SPORTS PHYSICALS, EVEN THOUGH SCA IS THE #1 KILLER OF STUDENT ATHLETES AND THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES. SCREENINGS INCLUDE A CARDIAC RISK ASSESSMENT, EKG (ELECTROCARDIOGRAM), ECHOCARDIOGRAM AND CONSULTATION WITH A CARDIOLOGIST. WE HAVE SCREENED NEARLY 40,000 YOUTH SINCE 2010, WHICH HAVE FOUND OVER 600 YOUTH WITH PREVIOUSLY UNIDENTIFIED CARDIAC ABNORMALITIES.
  3. SAVE A HEART SAVE A LIFE AED PROGRAM PLACES AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (AEDS) AND ADVOCATES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS ANYWHERE YOUTH CONGREGATE. AEDS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO RESTART THE HEART OF AN SCA VICTIM, BUT ARE NOT MANDATED IN ALL SCHOOLS AND YOUTH CENTERS. EVERY MINUTE'S DELAY IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE DECREASES THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL BY 10%, WHICH IS WHY 92% OF SCA VICTIMS DIE. IT'S CRITICAL FOR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO BE AS WELL-PRACTICED IN EXECUTING THE CARDIAC CHAIN OF SURVIVAL AS THEY ARE IN FIRE DRILLS.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2010.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.