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Ready to Succeed

EIN 83-2282113 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

READY TO SUCCEED (RTS) IS A NON PROFIT EMPOWERING FOSTER YOUTH IN COLLEGE TO PREPARE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AND BUILD PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT. WE DO THIS THROUGH A UNIQUE, MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES OUR RTS STUDENTS WITH PERSONALIZED CAREER ADVISING, ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS AND PLACEMENT IN PAID INTERNSHIPS. UPON COMPLETION OF OUR PROGRAM, RTS SCHOLARS HAVE THE SKILLS, RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCES THEY NEED TO LAUNCH THEIR CAREERS AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
23
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$215,929, ceo & co-founder

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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

    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 June 30, 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. $1.8 million spent. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO RTS PROGRAM ALUMNI PURSUING CAREERS IN MISSION-DRIVEN SECTORS WHERE COMPENSATION MAY BE LOWER THAN COMPARABLE PRIVATE-SECTOR ROLES. THIS SUPPORT HELPS REDUCE FINANCIAL BARRIERS THAT MAY PREVENT ALUMNI FROM PURSUING CAREERS ALIGNED WITH THEIR EDUCATION AND LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL GOALS. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS AND HELPS ALUMNI MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY AS THEY TRANSITION INTO THE WORKFORCE. BY REDUCING THE BURDEN OF EDUCATIONAL DEBT, THESE EFFORTS SUPPORT ALUMNI IN ADVANCING THEIR CAREERS AND ACHIEVING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
  2. $1.3 million spent. CAREER ACCELERATOR PROGRAMTHE RTS CAREER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM IS A MULTI-YEAR CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT FOSTER YOUTH AND FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS AS THEY TRANSITION FROM COLLEGE TO THE PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED CAREER ADVISING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, AND ACCESS TO A NETWORK OF INDUSTRY MENTORS AND PROFESSIONALS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES CAREER COACHING, WORKSHOPS ON PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT SUPPORT, AND FINANCIAL STIPENDS THAT ALLOW SCHOLARS TO PARTICIPATE IN CAREER-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES. BY ADDRESSING SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS THAT OFTEN LIMIT ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS, THE PROGRAM HELPS SCHOLARS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE DEGREES AND LAUNCH CAREERS ALIGNED WITH THEIR GOALS.
  3. $209,182 spent. PROJECT DORM ROOM & SPECIAL PROGRAMSPROJECT DORM ROOM AND RELATED SPECIAL INITIATIVES PROVIDE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT TO FOSTER YOUTH ENTERING COLLEGE. THE PROGRAM SUPPLIES DORM ROOM ESSENTIALS AND OTHER BASIC LIVING ITEMS TO INCOMING FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. RTS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS COORDINATE THE COLLECTION, PACKAGING, AND DELIVERY OF THESE SUPPLIES TO ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE THE BASIC NECESSITIES REQUIRED FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION INTO CAMPUS LIFE. THESE EFFORTS REDUCE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON STUDENTS AND HELP THEM BEGIN THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE FEELING SUPPORTED AND PREPARED.
  4. $35,870 spent. ALUMNI & EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENTTHE ALUMNI AND EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTS RTS SCHOLARS AFTER GRADUATION AS THEY BEGIN AND ADVANCE IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS. ALUMNI RECEIVE ONGOING CAREER ADVISING, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EARLY CAREER GROWTH. THE PROGRAM CONNECTS ALUMNI WITH MENTORS, INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, AND PEER NETWORKS THAT HELP FACILITATE CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS. BY MAINTAINING ENGAGEMENT BEYOND GRADUATION, RTS STRENGTHENS ITS ALUMNI NETWORK AND SUPPORTS SUSTAINED ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 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 June 2025.

    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 May 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.

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.