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Teens Rise Foundation

EIN 83-4253684 · La Jolla, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TEENS RISE FOUNDATION ADVANCES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH THROUGH TWO COMPLEMENTARY CHANNELS: NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF ACADEMIC MATERIALS AND EDUCATOR TRAINING, AND HIGH-TOUCH, PLACE-BASED PROGRAMMING IN SOUTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO.

Income
$550,186
Spending
$531,252
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$118,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 June 30, 2026, 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. $515,197 spent. IN THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR, TEENS RISE FOUNDATION PROVIDED ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND COLLEGE APPLICATION SUPPORT MATERIALS TO 9,250 STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNER SCHOOLS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND DELIVERED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES TO 5,000 EDUCATORS. IN SOUTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO, TEENS RISE FOUNDATION DELIVERED ITS SIGNATURE SERVES, SCHOLARS, Y SALUD PROGRAM TO 2,894 UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS ACROSS 14 TITLE I SCHOOLS IN THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WITH STAFF EMBEDDED ON CAMPUSES BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY. 1,460 STUDENTS ENGAGED IN REGULAR AFTER-SCHOOL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THROUGH 26 TENNIS PROGRAMS, AND 82% WERE RETAINED THROUGH THE FULL SEASON. 1,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN COLLEGE AND CAREER EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CAREER PANELS, STEM JOB SHADOWING FIELD TRIPS, UNIVERSITY SYMPOSIUMS, AND COLLEGE CAMPUS TOURS. 526 UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN SOUTH BAY SALUD MINDFULNESS PROGRAMMING; INCLUDING 75 THROUGH WEEKLY YOGA AND MINDFULNESS CLASSES AND 480 THROUGH SCHOOL-WIDE MINDFULNESS ASSEMBLIES, WITH SOME STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN BOTH. 520 FAMILIES ATTENDED FAMILY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS COVERING FAFSA COMPLETION, SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS, AND POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS. 750 STUDENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED THREE COLLEGE SIGNING DAY CELEBRATIONS HONORING GRADUATING SENIORS. TEENS RISE FOUNDATION PREPARED AND SUPPORTED 62 GRADUATING SENIORS WHO RECEIVED COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS RANGING FROM $500 TO $15,000, TOTALING $294,000 AWARDED BY THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH TEENS RISE FOUNDATION. OUTCOMES ACROSS THESE PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATE MEASURABLE GAINS. STUDENTS RECEIVING ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT RECORDED 13% GROWTH IN ENGLISH AND 18% GROWTH IN MATH. 95% OF MINDFULNESS PARTICIPANTS REPORTED IMPROVED STRESS-MANAGEMENT SKILLS, AND 100% REPORTED GAINING NEW MENTAL HEALTH TOOLS. 100% OF PARTICIPATING SENIORS GRADUATED MEETING CALIFORNIAS A-G COLLEGE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS, COMPARED TO 56% OF SAN DIEGO SENIORS. ALL SOUTH BAY PROGRAMMING IS DELIVERED ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES AT NO COST TO STUDENTS OR FAMILIES, WHICH IS WHY PARTICIPATION IS NOT LIMITED BY THE FINANCIAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS THAT CONSTRAIN ACCESS IN THE REGION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 November 6, 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 June 2026.

    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 May 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 November 4, 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.