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Raise the Future

EIN 84-0793576 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EVERY YOUNG PERSON IS CONNECTED TO AT LEAST ONE STRONG, STABLE, AND CARING ADULT WHO MEETS THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS.

Income
$11.6 million
Spending
$11.6 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
145
Volunteers
59
Highest pay
$216,443, ceo (end 3/2026)

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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. $4.3 million spent. FAMILY PREPARATION AND SUPPORT:RAISE THE FUTURE PROVIDES ONGOING, HANDS-ON SUPPORT TO FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THEIR ADOPTION JOURNEY, STARTING BEFORE THE ADOPTION PROCESS BEGINS. THE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM OFFERS EDUCATION, COACHING, AND TAILORED SERVICES TO HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF ADOPTION. BY FOSTERING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS EARLY ON, RAISE THE FUTURE PROMOTES FAMILY COMMITMENT AND MINIMIZES THE RISK OF ADOPTION DISRUPTIONS.CLASSES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOCUS ON EQUIPPING PARENTS WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF TRAUMA, ABUSE, AND NEGLECT, HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP SECURE ATTACHMENTS AND THRIVE AS HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL ADULTS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, RAISE SERVED OVER 1,900 CAREGIVERS AND PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED WITH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM THROUGH DELIVERY OF MORE THAN 1340 HOURS OF TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING AND OVER 4,500 HOURS OF PERSONALIZED COACHING AND ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING ARTICLES AND VIDEOS, ARE REGULARLY SHARED WITH ADOPTIVE FAMILIES VIA BI-MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTERS TO PROVIDE ONGOING GUIDANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
  2. $3.6 million spent. INTENSIVE RECRUITMENT SERVICES:RAISE THE FUTURE'S INTENSIVE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM BUILDS POSITIVE, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUTH, EMPOWERING THEM AND ENHANCING THEIR ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH POTENTIAL FAMILIES. USING AN EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL PROVEN TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FINDING PERMANENT FAMILIES BY UP TO THREE TIMES, THE PROGRAM ALSO GENERATES SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS BY REDUCING RELIANCE ON CONGREGATE AND FOSTER CARE.RECRUITERS MAINTAIN CASELOADS OF 12 TO 15 YOUTH, FOCUSING ON THE OLDEST, LONGEST-WAITING, HARDEST-TO-PLACE, AND MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. THIS PERSONALIZED, STRENGTHS-BASED APPROACH SERVED 610 YOUTH IN THREE STATES, AND CONTRIBUTED TO 131 YOUTH BEING MATCHED WITH PERMANENT FAMILIES DURING THE YEAR.
  3. $814,299 spent. NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCERAISE THE FUTURE PARTNERS WITH THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DILIGENT RECRUITMENT AND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ENHANCED POST ADOPTION TO STRENGTHEN ADOPTION SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE. BY PROVIDING FREE, CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WEBINARS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER CONNECTIONS, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS STATES, TRIBES, AND TERRITORIES IN BUILDING THEIR CAPACITY TO RECRUIT ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND ENHANCE POST-ADOPTION SERVICES. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, RAISE THE FUTURE CONTRIBUTES TO SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENTS THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  4. $552,252 spent. MEDIA-BASED RECRUITMENT SERVICES:RAISE THE FUTURE EMPLOYS CHILD-CENTRIC RECRUITMENT METHODS TO IDENTIFY AND CONNECT POTENTIAL ADOPTIVE FAMILIES WITH WAITING CHILDREN. KEY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HOSTING ADOPTION NETWORKING EVENTS, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL NEWS STATIONS TO BROADCAST WEDNESDAY'S CHILD PROFILES, AND FEATURING CHILDREN IN THE CHILDREN'S GALLERY ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. MONTHLY ADOPTION ORIENTATION AND INFORMATION CLASSES, AS WELL AS PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, HELP RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THE ADOPTION OF WAITING CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ASSISTS PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE FAMILIES NATIONWIDE BY PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON THE ADOPTION PROCESS, CONNECTING THEM WITH LOCAL HUMAN SERVICES AND CHILD PLACEMENT AGENCIES, AND RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES ABOUT SPECIFIC CHILDREN.A STANDOUT FEATURE OF RAISE THE FUTURE'S RECRUITMENT EFFORTS IS THE HEART GALLERY, A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBIT THAT SHOWCASES THE PERSONALITIES AND STORIES OF WAITING CHILDREN IN COLORADO, MISSOURI, NEVADA, AND UTAH. BY BRINGING THESE CHILDREN'S IMAGES TO LIFE, THE HEART GALLERY HELPS THEM FIND LOVING, PERMANENT FAMILIES. ADDITIONALLY, SMALL MATCHING EVENTS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO CONNECT IN FUN, FACILITATED SETTINGS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, RAISE THE FUTURE SERVED 619 YOUTH SEEKING PERMANENT FAMILIES VIA MEDIA-BASED ACTIVITIES ACROSS SIX STATES, AND FACILITATED 6,871 CHILD-SPECIFIC INQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC.

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 September 1979.

    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.