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Think Big for Kids Inc

EIN 83-3978138 · Lakeland, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THINK BIG FOR KIDS IS BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY PROVIDING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORSHIP, AND JOB READINESS TRAINING TO EXCEL IN TODAY'S WORKFORCE.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
23.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
8
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$173,920, executive director/secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 41% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. THINK BIG FOR KIDS IS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT THAT PARTNERS WITH COMPANIES FROM DIVERSE INDUSTRIES TO PROVIDE THE AWARENESS, GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO SET AND ACHIEVE THEIR POST-GRADUATION GOALS. OUR UNIQUE "THREE PILLARS" APPROACH INCORPORATES CAREER EXPLORATION, MENTORSHIP, AND JOB READINESS AND PLACEMENT. WE'VE DEVELOPED A PROGRAMMATIC ROADMAP THAT FIRST ENGAGES KIDS DURING THE CRITICAL MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS AND SUPPORTS THEM THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE ODURING THE PROGRAM, STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND WORK WITH EXPERIENCED MENTORS TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. AS THEY APPROACH GRADUATION, WE OFFER WORK PLACEMENT, INTERNSHIPS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP THEM PURSUE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, TRADE SCHOOL CERTIFICATION, OR A 2 TO 4-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE. TO FURTHER OUR MISSION TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO CONNECT GRADUATES TO JOBS THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AFTER COMPLETING THEIR EDUCATION.FOUNDED BY TECH ENTREPRENEUR TONY DIBENEDETTO, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH BUSINESS PARTNERS AND LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP KIDS' UNTAPPED POTENTIAL. IN 2025 WE SEVERED APPROXIMATELY 1815 KIDS. PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS, COMPANIES, AND VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN POVERTY WITH OPPORTUNITIES.THE THINK BIG FOR KIDS MISSION FOCUSES ON THREE PILLARS:- CAREER EXPLORATION: WE PROVIDE MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT DIVERSE JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN TODAY'S WORKPLACE BY ORGANIZING CAREER SHOWCASES, SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS, FIELDTRIPS, AND SUMMER PROGRAMS.- MENTORSHIP: WE PAIR STUDENTS WITH AN EXPERIENCED MENTOR ALIGNED WITH THEIR INTERESTS WHO CAN HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR CAREER OPTIONS, CHOOSE THE RIGHT EDUCATION PATH, REMAIN ACCOUNTABLE, AND PLAN FOR POST-GRADUATION.- JOB READINESS & PLACEMENT: WE PREPARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREER BY COORDINATING INTERNSHIP AND JOB SHADOWING OPPORTUNITIES, ORGANIZING JOB READINESS WORKSHOPS, AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS, AND ASSISTING WITH JOB PLACEMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.