Sydney Paige Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide low-income youth with the foundational tools and confidence needed to succeed in school through the donation of high-quality backpacks, books and school supplies to students most in need.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 450
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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 99% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 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 (2)
- $1.3 million spent. SCHOOL PREPAREDNESSThrough the donation of high-quality backpacks, books and school supplies to Pre-K to College students in need, we aim to equip students with the foundational tools and confidence needed to learn and thrive in school. We are passionate that education is the number one path out of poverty and that graduation is essential to achieving financial freedom. We address the top reasons for school dropout (lack of confidence and lack of tools to do their work) and consistently check in with educators and social workers to ensure we are providing the items most needed. By providing students with quality, long-lasting supplies, the need for teachers to fill in supply gaps is also eliminated.38,587 students served. 23,479 backpacks, 578,810 school supplies donated.
- $10,248 spent. LITERACYOur literacy initiative, launched in 2021, encompasses book borrowing as well as book ownership. Examples of book borrowing include donating to existing school and non-profit libraries based on their reading level and subject needs, creating mini libraries in transitional housing communities and replenishing neighborhood lending libraries. For book ownership, we give 1 bundle of 3 brand new books per child, toddler to young adult. We segment donations to ensure we provide a prioritized mix of STEM, social emotional and multicultural books to best meet the needs of each project.16,521 students served. 21,737 books donated.
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
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 December 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 December 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 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.