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Foster Source

EIN 81-2922749 · Thornton, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE HEALING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY CHILD WELFARE THROUGH MEANINGFUL, TRANSFORMATIONAL RESOURCES, COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
9
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$82,800, executive di

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. FOSTER SOURCE REBRANDED TO FOSTER SOURCE DBA BE THE SOURCE IN 2025. THE AGENCY SERVED WELL OVER 4000 FOSTER AND KINSHIP CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN, AS WELL AS NATURAL PARENTS WORKING TO REUNIFY WITH HOLISTIC, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE HEALING. IN THE LEARNING SOURCE, 3127 CLASS SURVEYS WERE RECEIVED FROM 1438 CAREGIVERS THAT WERE ACTIVE IN 2025. 636 UNIQUE FAMILIES SUBMITTED 1119 REQUESTS FOR HARD GOOD ITEMS TO MAKE PLACEMENT POSSIBLE OR TO MAINTAIN PLACEMENTS. ITEMS PROVIDED MOST WERE DIAPERS, MATTRESSES AND CAR SEATS. IN THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, 124 NEW CAREGIVERS BEGAN RECEIVING THERAPY, MAKING THE TOTAL OF ALL TIME CAREGIVERS REFERRED TO THERAPY TO 868. BE THE SOURCE SPONSORED 1406 THERAPY SESSIONS IN 2025. EIGHT EQUINE THERAPY LABS WERE HOSTED AND INCLUDED A TOTAL OF 57 PARTICIPANTS. 113 UNIQUE USERS REGISTERED IN THE RESPITE SOURCE AND 316 POSSIBLE RESPITE MATCHES WERE MADE. 53 FAMILIES WITH 64 CHILDREN IN CARE USED THE AGENCY'S FAMILY ADVOCACY SERVICES. 14 LIVED EXPERT AMBASSADORS HOSTED 100 MONTHLY PEER TO PEER SUPPORT EVENTS FOR OVER 1000 CAREGIVERS AND OVER 2000 CHILDREN. FOSTER SOURCE REBRANDED TO FOSTER SOURCE DBA BE THE SOURCE IN 2025. THE AGENCY SERVED WELL OVER 4000 FOSTER AND KINSHIP CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN, AS WELL AS NATURAL PARENTS WORKING TO REUNIFY WITH HOLISTIC, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE HEALING. IN THE LEARNING SOURCE, 3127 CLASS SURVEYS WERE RECEIVED FROM 1438 CAREGIVERS THAT WERE ACTIVE IN 2025. 636 UNIQUE FAMILIES SUBMITTED 1119 REQUESTS FOR HARD GOOD ITEMS TO MAKE PLACEMENT POSSIBLE OR TO MAINTAIN PLACEMENTS. ITEMS PROVIDED MOST WERE DIAPERS, MATTRESSES AND CAR SEATS. IN THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, 124 NEW CAREGIVERS BEGAN RECEIVING THERAPY, MAKING THE TOTAL OF ALL TIME CAREGIVERS REFERRED TO THERAPY TO 868. BE THE SOURCE SPONSORED 1406 THERAPY SESSIONS IN 2025. EIGHT EQUINE THERAPY LABS WERE HOSTED AND INCLUDED A TOTAL OF 57 PARTICIPANTS. 113 UNIQUE USERS REGISTERED IN THE RESPITE SOURCE AND 316 POSSIBLE RESPITE MATCHES WERE MADE. 53 FAMILIES WITH 64 CHILDREN IN CARE USED THE AGENCY'S FAMILY ADVOCACY SERVICES. 14 LIVED EXPERT AMBASSADORS HOSTED 100 MONTHLY PEER TO PEER SUPPORT EVENTS FOR OVER 1000 CAREGIVERS AND OVER 2000 CHILDREN.

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 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 January 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.