Choosing Our Roots
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Choosing Our Roots is to ensure that all queer Alaskan youth & young adults have access to safe home, supportive communities, and opportunities to thrive.
- Income
- $598,341
- Spending
- $621,939
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- -1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 77%
- Employees
- 4
- Highest pay
- $109,931, co-executive director operations
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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)
- $580,608 spent. Housing and Case Management for LGBTQ Homeless Youth - Provided direct services to youth participants, including host home placement, bridge housing, intensive case managment, material assistance, and wraparound supports to meet individual needs. Advocacy for Homeless LGBTQ Youth within the broader Continuim of Care - the organization continued to offer systemic advocacy and meaningful interventions into community collaborations, in order to increase the prevalence and qualtiy of culturally relevent supports for LGBTQ youth who experience homelessness in Alaska. This included active participation in the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Projects, the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, the Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, and various other local coalitions, as well as direct advocacy with other youth-serving agencies in the communities served. Youth Emplowerment, Mentorship, and Leadership Development - Stipends ($ 25/monthly meeting) provided to youth who serve on the Organizations Board of Directors. Several other youth participated in organizational committees to develop programming and hire staff; represented organization at local, regional, and national events, presentations and trainings; provided leadership in peer group activities, participated in media outreach activities; and were match with volunteer mentors.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.