Word Is Bond
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
WE WORK WITH YOUNG MEN AGES 15-20 YEARS OLD AND DO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CAREER EXPLORATION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING.
- Income
- $355,218
- Spending
- $399,582
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $82,475, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 111% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 194% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (5)
- $130,133 spent. THE BLACKSTAR HOMECOMING EXPEDITION CONNECTS AMBASSADORS WITH THEIR ANCESTRAL ROOTS THROUGH A JOURNEY ACROSS GHANA. THEY EXPLORE HISTORIC SITES RELATED TO THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE, MEET WITH GHANAIAN GOVERNMENT LEADERS, AND EXPERIENCE THE CULTURAL RICHNESS OF WEST AFRICA, DEEPENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF SELF AND HERITAGE.
- $54,773 spent. RISING LEADERS IS OUR FLAGSHIP THREE-YEAR PROGRAM. IN YEAR ONE, PARTICIPANTS (CALLED AMBASSADORS) GAIN FOUNDATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS. IN YEAR TWO, THEY ARE PLACED IN PAID INTERNSHIPS WITH LEADING PORTLAND-AREA BUSINESSES. IN YEAR THREE, THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE BLACKSTAR HOMECOMING EXPEDITION, A TRANSFORMATIVE TWO-WEEK LEADERSHIP IMMERSION IN GHANA.
- $43,665 spent. THE SPRING LEADERSHIP FORUM IS A ONE-WEEK IMMERSION IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FOCUSED ON PUBLIC POLICY AND COLLEGE READINESS. AMBASSADORS MEET WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, VISIT HBCUS, AND CREATE A PUBLIC POLICY PROPOSAL, WHICH THEY PRESENT IN D.C. AND AGAIN TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. ALL TRAVEL, LODGING, AND MEALS ARE FULLY FUNDED.
- $17,342 spent. LEVEL UP SUPPORTS PERSONAL GROWTH AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. MONTHLY PRO-SOCIAL EVENTSOPEN TO ALL YOUNG BLACK MENINCLUDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT, MENTORSHIP, DINNER, WORKSHOPS, AND DISCUSSIONS CENTERED ON LEADERSHIP. ACTIVITIES RANGE FROM MOVIE NIGHTS AND SPORTS EVENTS TO AN ANNUAL SKI TRIP TO MT. HOOD.
- $5,020 spent. IN MY SHOES IS AN INTERACTIVE COMMUNITY WALKING AND STORYTELLING PROJECT CURATED AND LED BY THE COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS OF WORD IS BOND. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PUBLIC SPEAKING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AMBASSADORS LEARN TO DESIGN AND LEAD WALKING TOURS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HISTORICAL BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS OF PORTLAND.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 June 2019.
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 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.