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Halfthestory

EIN 82-5231180 · Western Sprgs, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair63 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

#HALFTHESTORY'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR YOUTH. WE BELIEVE IN DIGITAL WELLBEING.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
8
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$200,000, executive director

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $2.0 million spent. THROUGH OUR ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH A WIDE AUDIENCE WITH OUR MISSION OF IMPROVING DIGITAL WELLBEING. WE HAVE LAUNCHED SOCIAL MEDIA U, AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT HAS REACHED OVER 2,500 TEENS TO EMPOWER THEM TO DEVELOP HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH TECHNOLOGY. FROM THIS PROGRAM, WE ALSO HOSTED FOCUS GROUPS WITH TEENS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO HELP BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CHALLENGES. WE LAUNCHED STORY SQUAD, WHICH IS A RESIDENT GROUP OF TEEN CREATORS TO CREATE CONTENT FOR OUR CHANNEL. WE ALSO HOST AN ANNUAL GLOBAL DAY OF UNPLUGGING, AN ADVOCACY HOLIDAY THAT CELEBRATES A 24-HOUR PERIOD OF COLLECTIVE PRESENCES AND REFLECTION. THIS HOLIDAY IS OBSERVED WITH YOUTH, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND INFLUENCERS AROUND THE WORLD AND HAS A REACH OF OVER 50,000,000 USERS, 50,000 PLEDGES, 60 INFLUENCERS, AND 20 BRANDS AND NGO PARTNERS IN 10 COUNTRIES

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 June 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 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.