Launch
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LAUNCH INC WAS FOUNDED TO PROVIDE CO-WORKING SPACE AND RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES IN ORANGE COUNTY. WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS, LAUNCH SEEKS TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF START-UPS AND CREATE JOBS IN ORANGE COUNTY THROUGH THE LAUNCH PROGRAM.
- Income
- $278,208
- Spending
- $342,598
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 85%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $111,779, executive di
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
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 46% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a 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.
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, 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)
- $215,293 spent. LAUNCH CHAPEL HILL, A START-UP ACCELERATOR LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN CHAPEL HILL, FOSTERS HIGH-POTENTIAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING THEIR EARLY-STAGE, HIGH-POTENTIAL BUSINESSES INTO SELF-SUSTAINING ENTERPRISES. LAUNCH IS A TRULY UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, ORANGE COUNTY, AND UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA - CHAPEL HILL. LAUNCH PROVIDES THE SUPPORT, TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO DECREASE RISKS, REDUCE GO-TO-MARKET TIME, AND ACCELERATE THE GROWTH OF START-UPS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.