Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Light Foundation

EIN 81-3061830 · Creve Coeur, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO CREATE A GENERATION OF SUCCESSFUL YOUTH BY PROVIDING LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$490,959
Spending
$901,758
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
15.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 94%
Employees
6
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$84,876, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 84% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 27 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 5 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $276,250 spent. RITECARE - THE LIGHT FOUNDATION COLLABORATES WITH THE NATIONAL, STATE AND REGIONAL RITECARE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE FREE LANGUAGE AND LITERACY THERAPY TO AT RISK YOUTH WITH SIGNIFICANT COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES. THE FOUNDATION ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN THIS PROGRAM THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC EVENT MANAGEMENT, STAFF CREATION OF MISSION MARKETING (MISSION AWARENESS), CREATION AND MANAGEMENT OF STATE WEBSITE (MORITECARE.ORG) WHICH EDUCATES AND SUPPORTS THE MISSOURI RITECARE PROGRAM, STAFF CREATION OF PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS AND SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGING TO SUPPORT ACTIVE CAMPAIGN AND MISSION AWARENESS, INCOME TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND CREATE NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE MISSION ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION. IN 2023, THE LIGHT FOUNDATION PHILANTHROPICALLY HOSTED THE BENEFIT GOLF OUTING.
  2. $265,472 spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - SPECIAL PROGRAM AND SERVICES FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES WITH EDUCATIONAL AND EVENT MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT, LEADERSHIP PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, AND INCOME TO SUPPORT SERVICES OF ST. LOUIS YOUTH PROGRAMS.
  3. $200,487 spent. LIGHT BOX PRODUCTIONS PRODUCES ORIGINAL PHILANTHROPIC CREATIVE RESOURCES, EDUCATIONAL AND STUDIO OPPORTUNITIES (INCLUDING VIDEO, BRAND MARKETING AND VIRTUAL MESSAGING, WEB, EVENT AND EXHIBIT CREATION) TO AMPLIFY YOUTH-FOCUSED INITIATIVES.

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 November 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.