Ignite Alabama
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RURAL AND DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE, PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORT THAT ENABLE NONPROFITS AND ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS (ESOS) TO STABILIZE, SUSTAIN, AND SCALE-FOSTERING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND RESILIENCE.
- Income
- $700,705
- Spending
- $644,589
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $35,745, founder, ceo and president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
- $642,489 spent. IGNITE! ASSESSES NEEDS, DEVELOPS "INDIVIDUALIZED BUSINESS ACTION PLANS AND DIRECTS MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND/OR NONPROFIT LEADERS TO THE APPROPRIATE PARTNER AGENCY BEST EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELEVANT TO THEIR CURRENT NEED. IGNITE! ACHIEVES THIS THROUGH THE DOING BUSINESS IN ALABAMA PROGRAM (DBIA). DBIA IS A FIVE (5) YEAR PROJECT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MENTORSHIP, AND SUPPORT TO 150 MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND/OR NONPROFIT LEADERS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS IMPLEMENTED DBIA PROGRAMS SUCH AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP BOOTCAMP, THE C-SUITE PROJECT AND JUNETEENTH LEADERSHIP.DBIA WAS CREATED WITH THE FULL FOCUS OF CREATING PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL POSITION OF YOUR BUSINESS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS PARTNERED WITH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER MANY RESOURCES THAT COVER TOPICS SUCH AS: BUSINESS FORMATION/STRUCTUREBUSINESS SCALINGFINANCIAL REPORTINGBUSINESS AND PERSONAL CREDITACCESS TO CAPITALLEGALSOCIAL MEDIAGOVERNMENT/CORPORATE CONTRACTSHOW TO PITCH?MARKETING/BRANDING/PUBLIC RELATIONS
- $2,100 spent. IGNITE! HOSTS AN ANNUAL EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT, IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA TO FURTHER ITS MISSION TO ENSURE MINORITIES STAY INFORMED AND HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING TO COMPETITIVELY COMPETE, SUCCEED, AND EXCEL. THE EVENT IS ALSO STREAMED ON FACEBOOK TO ALLOW FOR MORE WIDESPREAD ACCESS. THIS ANNUAL EVENT IS CENTERED AROUND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES FOR THE FUTURE. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SUMMIT INCLUDE DEMYSTIFYING THE NOTIONS OF "GETTING RICH QUICK", LEARNING FINANCIAL ASTUTENESS AND METHODS OF PERSISTENCE IN BUSINESS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 May 2020.
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.