Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cadet Character & Leadership Foundation

EIN 81-0703923 · Long Beach, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Focused on the potential of Americas youth, the Cadet Character and Leadership Foundation is designed to seek out young lives with leadership drive, who may be financially under-resourced and help them achieve their full potential.

Income
$-44,450
Spending
$101,616
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
55.7 months of spending
Employees
0
Volunteers
5

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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 103% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $71,034 spent. CCLF made contributions to the efforts of Civil Air Patrol to upgrade squadron level equipment and to improve meeting space used for cadet training and emergency services. The amount of grants for Civil Air Patrol building upgrades and space improvements in 2024 totaled $16,018.In addition, CCLF made contributions to Civil Air Patrol to repair and upgrade a sailplane used for cadet flight orientation and instruction. The amount of grants used for Civil Air Patrol sailplane repair for 2024 totaled $33,000.Additional support of Civil Air Patrol cadet activities totaled $1,661 for 2024.CCLF also granted funds for cadets to participate in the Air Force Associationsannual National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. This competition inspires youth topursue careers in cybersecurity or other STEM disciplines critical to our nations future. The amount of grants used in 2024 totaled $5,355.
  2. $28,219 spent. Leadership scholarships totaling $27,719 for 2024, were awared to under-resourced Civil Air Patrol cadets to attend leadership development activities.In addition, CCLF granted funds for flight scholarships in 2024 for $500.

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

  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 October 13, 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 2024.

    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 January 2016.

    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 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.