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Heartlight Center Inc

EIN 84-1577608 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 51 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Provide meaningful, accessible grief support and education to those grieving and professional and volunteer caregivers working with those grieving.

Income
$683,127
Spending
$611,458
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
9
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$139,169, executive director

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

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 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 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 51 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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 11 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (3)
  1. $124,472 spent. HeartLight Center offers programming and resources for anyone who has experienced a death loss through open grief support groups, curriculum based grief support groups, workshops, educational presentations and resources. In 2025 HeartLight hosted 495 Grief Support Groups, 83 workshops and 15 educational presentations to support grievers.
  2. $121,196 spent. HeartLight Center offers programming, training, education and coordinated networking opportunities for Professional and volunteer caregivers. In 2025 HeartLight Center hosted industry expert speakers and authors to provide educational programming, accessible to anyone through HeartLight Centers website at no cost to learners and professionals. HeartLight hosted over 20 volunteer and facilitator trainings. In 2025, HeartLight offers internship placements for graduate level social workers, counselors and human service majors hosting more than 15 student interns. HeartLight coordinates networking opportunities for professionals working in end-of-life, death care and bereavement in order to reduce duplication of services and increase access to services for those served by professionals, hosting and coordinating over 15 events.
  3. $81,890 spent. HeartLight Center offers grief support resources to anyone grieving, supporting someone grieving and professional and volunteer caregivers. Vetted, evidence based resources are developed and accessible on the HeartLight Center website and for purchase. Resources include, but are not limited to: printable PDF handouts on grief specific topics, brochures, curriculum based Facilitator Support Group Trainings and materials, book and media grief support recommendations etc. HeartLight Center produces two HeartLight Highlight magazine mailers on the topics of Tat the Intersection of Trauma and Grief and Grief and the Holidays. This resources is available online and was mailed to over 4000 individuals.

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 August 2003.

    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.