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Eat Learn Play Foundation

EIN 83-1373602 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EAT. LEARN. PLAY IS AN OAKLAND-BASED CHARITY FOUNDED IN 2019 BY STEPHEN AND AYESHA CURRY WITH THE BELIEF THAT EVERY KID DESERVES MORE AND SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORT TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. EAT. LEARN. PLAY. IS ON AN INDELIBLE MISSION TO UPLIFT AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF YOUTH, TAKING A WHOLE CHILD, WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH IN TRANSFORMING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE FOR AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF KIDS IN OAKLAND PROVIDING HEALTHY MEALS AND FRESH FOOD, HELPING KIDS LEARN TO READ, MAKING THEIR DREAM PLAY SPACES COME TRUE, AND PARTICIPATING IN YOUTH SPORTS.

Income
$22.8 million
Spending
$21.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
19
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$426,024, ceo

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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, 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 (1)
  1. $19.0 million spent. EAT. LEARN. PLAY. IS DEDICATED TO TRANSFORMING THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR A GENERATION OF OAKLAND STUDENTS. IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY, PARTNERS, AND DONORS, WE PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT EMPOWER CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS TO THRIVEHELPING THEM UNLOCK THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND IN THEIR BROADER LIVES, AT HOME AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. DURING 2024, EAT. LEARN. PLAY. ACHIEVED ITS MISSION THROUGH GRANTS AND PROGRAMS THAT SERVE OAKLAND YOUTH IN THE AREAS OF NUTRITION, LITERACY, AND PLAY. TO ENSURE ALL OUSD STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED THE NUTRITIOUS FOOD THEY NEED TO THRIVE, ELP PROVIDED 16,310 NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND 44,576 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE TO FOOD-INSECURE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH OUR EAT. LEARN. PLAY. BUS AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK AND COMMUNITY KITCHENS.TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE SUPPORTS THE NEED TO BECOME STRONGER READERS, WE PROVIDED $3 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR HIGH-IMPACT LITERACY TUTORING FOR 1,911 STUDENTS AT 33 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND EXTERNAL EVALUATION. TO SUPPORT STUDENT ACCESS TO QUALITY BOOKS, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 165,000 CHILDRENS BOOKS IN OAKLAND THROUGH THE EAT. LEARN. PLAY. BUS, LITTLE TOWN LIBRARIES, BOOK FAIRS, AND SCHOOL GRANTS WHICH INCLUDES AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY WE ALSO RENOVATED.TO GIVE STUDENTS ACCESS TO GREAT SCHOOLYARDS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ACTIVE AND PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH SPORTS, WE GRANTED $5 MILLION FOR 8 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLYARDS AND 6 MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL GYM RENNOVATIONS. DURING 2024, WE SUPPORTED OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT WELL-BEING THROUGH ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS, HIGH-DOSAGE TUTORING, QUALITY READING MATERIALS, EXCELLENT SCHOOL FACILITIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY AND BE ACTIVE. EAT. LEARN. PLAY. SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED ITS DIRECT PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF OAKLAND. THROUGH OUR MOBILE RESOURCE CENTER AND PARTNERSHIP WITH ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, WE HOSTED 37 DISTRIBUTION EVENTS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS WHERE WE DISTRIBUTED BOOKS AND FOOD TO 11,345 STUDENTS.HIGH-DOSAGE TUTORING WAS ALSO EXPANDED TO 1,911 STUDENTS AT 33 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND A PILOT FOR LIBRARY RENOVATIONS WAS COMPLETED. WE ALSO PLANTED 29 OF OUR LITTLE TOWN LIBRARY BOOK-SHARING UNITS, WHICH, ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, DISTRIBUTED OVER 14,000 CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE BOOKS. INCLUDING BOOK GRANTS, DONATIONS, AND HOLIDAY GIVEAWAYS, WE'VE DONATED OVER 165,000 BOOKS IN 2024.EAT. LEARN. PLAY. CELEBRATED THE SPIRIT OF OAKLAND BY BRINGING UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES TO KIDS FROM A KID'S FUN RUN AT THE OAKLAND MARATHON WHERE 1000 KIDS PARTICIPATED FOR FREE TO OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE CURRYS EVENT, WHICH PROVIDED GIFTS AND RESOURCES TO 1100 OAKLAND STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. TOGETHER WITH SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE PROVIDED GIFTS, BOOKS, FOOD, AND OTHER RESOURCES TOTALING MORE THAN $500,000.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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