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Hwarang Youth Foundation

EIN 81-1776153 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak8 out of 100GovernanceWeak41 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

HWARANG ALSO KNOWN AS FLOWERING KNIGHTS, REFERS TO AN ELITE GROUP OF MALE YOUTH IN SILLA IN ORDER TO CREATE WELL-ROUNDED ELITE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. INSPIRED BY THAT, THE HWARANG YOUTH FOUNDATION IS A SERVICE GROUP COMPOSED OF GOAL-DRIVEN FUTURE LEADERS, AIMING TO BETTER THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THROUGH CONSISTENT UNIFIED EFFORTS. WE SEEK TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES BY PROMOTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR ACTIVE ROLES AS ADVOCATORS OF LOVE AND PEACE. EACH AND EVERY HWARANG INDIVIDUAL IS A DILIGENT AND PASSIONATE LEADER WITH HIGH REGARD FOR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. COMING TOGETHER, WE STAND PROUDLY AS COMBATANTS AGAINST GLOBAL ISSUES. HWARANG HAS A SAYING, TODAY'S HWARANGS, TOMORROW'S LEADERS. OUR HWARANG YOUTH FOUNDATION AND SAVE OUR SOCIETY ARE NOT JUST VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, BUT ARE OUTLETS TO HELP STUDENTS BECOME EFFECTIVE, POWERFUL, AND ACTIVE LEADERS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN A PART OF SEVERAL ACTIVITIES OVER THE YEARS: PARK RESTORATION

Income
$168,798
Spending
$207,712
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
-0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1

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

Weak: 8 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 191% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% 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

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    5 of 5

    Keeps 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.

  • 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. HWARANG ANNUAL GALA AND AWARD IS A CHARITY EVENT THAT CELEBRATES HWARANG?S ACHIEVEMENTS WITH AN AWARD CEREMONY THAT SIGNIFIES MEMBERS GREAT COMMITMENT. STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MEMBERS BY SEEING EACH OTHER FACE-TO-FACE TO START A MORE ENGAGED FRESH YEAR. FUNDRAISING VIA DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS TO OPERATE HWARANG NEXT YEAR.
  2. $44,555 spent. HWARANG VISION CAMP PROVIDES FREE CATARACT SURGERY TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN GUATEMALA. HWARANG PURCHASED A MEDICAL VAN TO TRANSPORT THE VOLUNTEERS SAFELY AND PAID THE FULL COST OF CATARACT SURGERY, DOCTORS & NURSES. HWARANG VOLUNTEERS DONATED THOUSANDS OF DAILY NECESSITIES AND HELD FREE ENTERTAINING CLASSES FOR THE YOUTHS IN GUATEMALA. HWARANG COLLECTED FUNDS FOR THIS EVENT THROUGH AN ANNUAL VISION CONCERT.
  3. $68,015 spent. SUMMIT OFFICERS AND CHAPTER OFFICERS BOND AND LEARN WHAT THEIR POSITION ENTAILS. THE OFFICERS DISCUSS THE WAYS TO IMPROVE HWARANG. HWARANG GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS. BONDING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CHAPTER OFFICER INTRODUCTIONS, CHARADES, AND VARIOUS OTHER GAMES THAT REQUIRE TEAMWORK. THIS EVENT IS AN OVERNIGHT EVENT, REQUIRED TO RESERVE HOTEL ROOMS AND CONFERENCE ROOMS, TO PROVIDE MEALS AND UNIFORMS.
  4. $7,073 spent. SUPPORT MEMBERS' RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

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 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 November 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.