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Olivias Bears Inc

EIN 84-3058333 · N Tonawanda, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OLIVIA'S BEARS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, CREATED BY OLIVIA GONYEA AND HER FAMILY IN 2009. OLIVIA WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EWINGS SARCOMA, A FORM OF BONE CANCER, IN 2009 AT THE AGE OF EIGHT. AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2010, OLIVIA HAS BEEN CANCER-FREE. BEFORE OLIVIA'S TREATMENT ENDED, SHE WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO START GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. TOUCHED BY THE GIFT OF A BUILD- A-BEAR THAT SHE RECEIVED BEFORE GOING INTO ONE OF HER SURGERIES, SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO START DELIVERING BEARS TO OTHER CHILDREN RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. WITH THE HELP OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OLIVIA'S BEARS STARTED WITH A SMALL DELIVERY OF 20 BEARS. NOW 14 YEARS LATER, OVER A THOUSAND BEARS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO CHILDREN AND THEIR SIBLINGS.

Income
$59,515
Spending
$57,447
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 74%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

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.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 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

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 50 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $51,447 spent. DONATION OF THOUSANDS OF BEARS AND OTHER GOODS/SERVICES DELIVERED TO SICK CHILDREN AND THEIR SIBLINGS ALL ACROSS WNY.
  2. $6,000 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO LOCAL TEENS.
  3. INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDING OF A TEEN LOUNGE AT JOHN R. OISHEI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
  4. ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
  5. ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

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 October 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.