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Seeds of Caring

EIN 82-0639894 · Worthington, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEEDS OF CARING IS ORGANIZED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. SEEDS OF CARING OFFERS CHILD-CENTERED VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES TO EMPOWER CHILDREN TO CREATE A KINDER COMMUNITY WITH THEIR HEARTS, HANDS AND MINDS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
20
Volunteers
62,412
Highest pay
$104,728, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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

    0 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, 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. $939,647 spent. IN 2025, SEEDS OF CARING PROVIDED 57,109 CHILD VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT HELPED CHILDREN DEVELOP EMPATHY, CIVIC AWARENESS, AND A SENSE OF CONNECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THROUGH HANDS-ON, AGE-APPROPRIATE SERVICE, CHILDREN LEARNED TO NOTICE COMMUNITY NEEDS, CONSIDER PERSPECTIVES BEYOND THEIR OWN, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN PLAY A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN HELPING OTHERS AND STRENGTHENING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE EARLY EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR. SEEDS OF CARING PARTNERED WITH 77 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO MOBILIZE 71,683 HOURS OF SERVICE ACROSS OHIO AND INDIANA, ALIGNING YOUTH SERVICE WITH REAL, COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES SUCH AS FOOD INSECURITY, SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS, AND ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ENSURED THAT CHILDRENS SERVICE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO LOCAL NEEDS AND THAT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED TANGIBLE SUPPORT THAT ADVANCED THEIR MISSIONS. DURING THE YEAR, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PREPARED 9,357 SACK LUNCHES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HUNGER OR HOMELESSNESS, ASSEMBLED 8,351 COMPASSION KITS WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, AND CREATED 6,775 CARE CARDS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AMONG MANY OTHER PROJECTS. IN TOTAL, THESE SERVICE-LEARNING EFFORTS GENERATED 168,206 IN DONATED GOODS FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AT THE SAME TIME, PARTICIPATING YOUTH STRENGTHENED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS SUCH AS SOCIAL AWARENESS, PERSPECTIVE-TAKING, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY- CAPACITIES THAT RESEARCH ASSOCIATES WITH POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH, STRONGER SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND CIVIC BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITIES. IN 2025, SEEDS OF CARING PROVIDED 57,109 CHILD VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT HELPED CHILDREN DEVELOP EMPATHY, CIVIC AWARENESS, AND A SENSE OF CONNECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY. THROUGH HANDS-ON, AGE-APPROPRIATE SERVICE, CHILDREN LEARNED TO NOTICE COMMUNITY NEEDS, CONSIDER PERSPECTIVES BEYOND THEIR OWN, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN PLAY A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN HELPING OTHERS AND STRENGTHENING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE EARLY EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR. SEEDS OF CARING PARTNERED WITH 77 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO MOBILIZE 71,683 HOURS OF SERVICE ACROSS OHIO AND INDIANA, ALIGNING YOUTH SERVICE WITH REAL, COMMUNITY-IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES SUCH AS FOOD INSECURITY, SOCIAL ISOLATION AMONG OLDER ADULTS, AND ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ENSURED THAT CHILDRENS SERVICE WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO LOCAL NEEDS AND THAT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED TANGIBLE SUPPORT THAT ADVANCED THEIR MISSIONS. DURING THE YEAR, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PREPARED 9,357 SACK LUNCHES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HUNGER OR HOMELESSNESS, ASSEMBLED 8,351 COMPASSION KITS WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, AND CREATED 6,775 CARE CARDS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, AMONG MANY OTHER PROJECTS. IN TOTAL, THESE SERVICE-LEARNING EFFORTS GENERATED 168,206 IN DONATED GOODS FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AT THE SAME TIME, PARTICIPATING YOUTH STRENGTHENED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS SUCH AS SOCIAL AWARENESS, PERSPECTIVE-TAKING, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY- CAPACITIES THAT RESEARCH ASSOCIATES WITH POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH, STRONGER SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND CIVIC BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITIES.

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 November 6, 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 November 4, 2026.

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