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Agoge Project

EIN 82-3611749 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE DEPENDABLE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE YOUTH IN THE BELAIR-EDISON NEIGHBORHOOD OF BALTIMORE

Income
$345,177
Spending
$269,469
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
1
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$19,557, founder/president

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 79% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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, 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 (4)
  1. $42,847 spent. THE AGOGE PROJECT'S BOXING PROGRAM BUILDS SELF-DISCIPLINE, FOCUS, AND ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH STRUCTURED AMATEUR BOXING TRAINING. THE PROGRAM DELIVERED 529 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION IN 2025, AND EIGHT AMATEUR BOXERS - ALL IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF COMPETITION - REPRESENTED TAP IN 24 AMATEUR BOUTS AND 3 PROFESSIONAL BOUTS, TRAVELING TO A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN MICHIGAN AND COMPETING IN REGIONAL EVENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA EN ROUTE TO 13 CHAMPIONSHIPS AND 2 STATE OR NATIONAL REPRESENTATIONS. TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE, BOXERS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN STRONG SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC STANDING, REINFORCING THAT THE GYM IS A TOOL FOR LIFE SUCCESS RATHER THAN AN END IN ITSELF. AS WITH EVERY AGOGE PROJECT PROGRAM, BOXING PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ACCESS TO WHOLE-FOOD MEALS, ARE LAYERED INTO WEEKLY AND MONTHLY MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES, AND ARE PAIRED WITH CONSISTENT ADULT MENTORS WHO TRACK THEIR PROGRESS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE GYM.
  2. $29,242 spent. THE AGOGE PROJECT'S GRAPPLING PROGRAM TEACHES JIU-JITSU AND WRESTLING FUNDAMENTALS AS A PATHWAY INTO SCHOOL-AFFILIATED ATHLETICS, BUILDING DISCIPLINE, CONFLICT-RESOLUTION SKILLS, AND PHYSICAL CONFIDENCE. THE PROGRAM DELIVERED 512 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION IN 2025 TO 8 COMPETITIVE PARTICIPANTS, WHO LOGGED 6 TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES AND EARNED 1 STATE PLACEMENT AND 1 NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION. ONE PARTICIPANT TRANSITIONED DIRECTLY FROM TAP'S MAT INTO A PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL'S VARSITY WRESTLING PROGRAM IN 2025, AND SEVERAL YOUNGER GRAPPLERS ARE NOW ON A SIMILAR PATH. AS IN EVERY AGOGE PROJECT PROGRAM, GRAPPLING PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ACCESS TO WHOLE-FOOD MEALS, WEEKLY AND MONTHLY MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES, AND ONGOING ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP THAT HELPS TRANSLATE THE DISCIPLINE LEARNED ON THE MAT INTO STRONGER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND DECISION-MAKING.
  3. $20,557 spent. THE AGOGE PROJECT'S LIFE SKILLS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING EQUIPS YOUTH WITH PRACTICAL, CAREER-ORIENTED COMPETENCIES THROUGH EIGHT ROTATING WORKSHOP TRACKS: CULINARY ARTS, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SEWING, GARDENING, HOME CARE AND CRAFTS, COMIC BOOK CREATION, MULTIMEDIA, AND AN ADVENTURE CAMP. THE PROGRAM DELIVERED 659 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION IN 2025; TWELVE YOUTH COMPLETED A FULL FINANCIAL LITERACY SERIES, AND ONE PARTICIPANT WAS PLACED IN A PAID INTERNSHIP WITH A COMMUNITY RESTAURANT PARTNER. WORKSHOPS ARE DESIGNED TO EXPAND CAREER EXPOSURE AND BUILD PRACTICAL COMPETENCE OUTSIDE THE GYM, COMPLEMENTING RATHER THAN COMPETING WITH ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC TRAINING. AS IN EVERY AGOGE PROJECT PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ACCESS TO WHOLE-FOOD MEALS, WEEKLY AND MONTHLY MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES, AND CONSISTENT ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP THAT REINFORCES THE PRACTICAL LESSONS LEARNED IN EACH WORKSHOP.
  4. $152,482 spent. OTHER PROGRAMMING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE AGOGE PROJECT INCLUDE; SPANISH PROGRAMMING, STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING, SUMMER PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS FOR LIFE SKILLS AND OFFSITE COACHING.

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 February 2018.

    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.