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Hack Foundation

EIN 81-2908499 · W Hollywood, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair58 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HACK FOUNDATION, D.B.A. HACK CLUB (HACK CLUB OR ORGANIZATION) IS A NOT-FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED IN 2016 TO HELP CREATE THE HIGHLY TECHNICAL PROBLEM SOLVERS OF TOMORROW BY ENGAGING TEENAGE PROGRAMMERS IN A WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF PEERS. THROUGH BUILDING OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS THEY'RE PROUD OF, FORMING LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS, AND GAINING LIFE SKILLS THROUGH GOING ON INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES LIKE HACKATHONS. HACK CLUB RECEIVES SUPPORT AND REVENUE PRIMARILY FROM DONATIONS. HACK CLUB'S FISCAL SPONSORSHIP ACTIVITIES EXPANDED TO COVER A BROADER ARRAY OF CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN 2023. HACK CLUB APPLIES THE SAME PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES IT DEVELOPED AS A SPONSOR TO CODING CLUBS TO HAVE A BROADER IMPACT ON A GREATER ARRAY OF ISSUE AREAS. HACK CLUB RETAINS ULTIMATE SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY OVER ITS PROJECTS AND REQUIRES ITS PROJECTS TO OPERATE IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF 501(C)(3), WHILE EMPOWERING THEM TO USE THEIR INITIATIVE AND ENERGY TO ADVANCE THEIR MISSION

Income
$22.4 million
Spending
$14.2 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
69
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$219,305, coo and boar

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 97% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (science, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    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 (2)
  1. $3.8 million spent. HACK CLUB. TOTAL REVENUE: 5,238,425. TOTAL EXPENSES: 3,792,052 HACK CLUB IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST CHARITY FOR TEENAGERS INTERESTED IN COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS. WE SERVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOLERS EACH YEAR THROUGH EDUCATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND IN-PERSON HACKATHONS, WE GIVE OVER 1M EACH YEAR TO TEENAGERS IN GRANTS AND COMPONENTS FOR THEIR PROJECTS, AND MORE. WE HELP TEENAGERS LEARN TECHNICAL SKILLS TO THRIVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, FORM LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS, AND BUILD LIFE SKILLS THROUGH GOING ON INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES LIKE HACKATHONS. ALMOST ALL OF OUR STAFF AND OPERATIONS ARE WITHIN HACK CLUB.
  2. $9.5 million spent. FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS. TOTAL REVENUE: 16,085,394. TOTAL EXPENSES: 9,545,562. NOTE: THIS IS THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL FUNDS RAISED AND SPENT ACROSS ALL FISCAL SPONSEES. THIS IS NOT REVENUE OR EXPENSES OF HACK CLUB. STARTED IN 2018, THE HACK FOUNDATION STARTED OFFERING FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SERVICES TO NONPROFIT CHARITABLE PROJECTS - MANY OF WHICH ARE LED BY HIGH SCHOOLERS. TODAY WE SPONSOR A WIDE VARIETY OF FOR-GOOD NONPROFIT CHARITABLE PROJECTS THROUGH OUR IN-HOUSE DEVELOPED FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY SOFTWARE TO HELP GRASSROOTS GROUPS DO MORE WITH LESS. HCB BY HACK CLUB.

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 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 2024.

    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 December 2016.

    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.