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Forward Through Ferguson

EIN 81-1359671 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMBRACING THE FERGUSON COMMISSION'S MANDATE, FORWARD THROUGH FERGUSON CENTERS IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND MOBILIZES ACCOUNTABLE BODIES TO ADVANCE RACIALLY EQUITABLE SYSTEMS AND POLICIES THAT ENSURE ALL PEOPLE IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION CAN THRIVE.

Income
$874,920
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
10
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$149,791, 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 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 (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 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 (4)
  1. $273,699 spent. RACIAL EQUITY CAPACITY: FTF HELPS PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS FIND THEIR STARTING POINT, STRATEGIZE THE JOURNEY FORWARD, CREATE "NEXT PRACTICES", AND DISCOVER HOW TO BE A RADICALLY ACCOUNTABLE PARTNER IN SYSTEMS CHANGE AND EQUITY. WE DO THIS BY CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS, INTERVENTIONS, AND ASSESSMENTS THAT SUPPORT INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION, CREATING AND SHARING CURATED TOOLKITS TO SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS TRANSFORMING TOWARDS RACIAL EQUITY; PUBLICLY TRACKING INSTITUTIONAL AND REGIONAL PROGRESS TOWARDS RACIAL EQUITY WITH ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE FERGUSON COMMISSION. REPORT; AMPLIFYING SUCCESS STORIES OF INSTITUTIONS TRANSFORMING TOWARDS RACIAL EQUITY; AND CONVENING REDI (RACIAL EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION) AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONERS TO FOSTER SYNERGY AND MEASURABLE PROGRESS TOWARDS RACIAL EQUITY.
  2. $160,016 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: BY FOCUSING ON COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY STORYTELLING, FTF BUILDS COMMUNITY AWARENESS, ELEVATES THE STORIES OF THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY RACIAL INEQUITY, AMPLIFIES THE STORIES OF PEOPLE ADVOCATING FOR POSITIVE CHANGES, AND CONNECTS ADVOCATES TO OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.
  3. $159,824 spent. POLICY AND SYSTEMS CHANGE: TO ACHIEVE POLICY AND SYSTEMS WINS THAT WILL DRIVE POPULATION-LEVEL OUTCOME SHIFTS TOWARDS RACIAL EQUITY, WE SUPPORT ISSUE-BASED ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS, ENGAGE IN GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZING, AND BUILD OPPORTUNITIES FOR DECISION MAKING BY COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM. WE PARTICULARLY FOCUS OUR CAMPAIGNS AND EFFORTS ON EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY TRANSFORMATION, AND RACIAL HEALING AND JUSTICE.
  4. $163,066 spent. DATA & RESEARCH: THE DATA AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES USE THE TOOLS OF HUMAN-CENTERED DATA, RESEARCH, AND STORYTELLING TO CATALYZE AND MEASURE IMPACT, FACILITATE ACCOUNTABILITY, DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING, AND IMAGINE WHAT'S POSSIBLE ON THE PATH TO RACIAL EQUITY. IT DOES SO THROUGH 3 PRIMARY ACTIVITIES: DATA STORYTELLING, MOVEMENT TRACKING, AND INTERNAL SUPPORT/IMPACT MEASUREMENT.

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 May 2017.

    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.