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Td Jakes Foundation

EIN 84-4667327 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION IS TO CONNECT UNDERREPRESENTED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$18.2 million
Spending
$15.3 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
37
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$406,119, president & ceo

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 159% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 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, 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 (5)
  1. $7.8 million spent. PATHWAY TO OPPORTUNITY SERVES AS THE UMBRELLA FOR THE T.D. JAKES FOUNDATION'S INITIATIVES AIMED AT EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. THIS PROGRAM INVESTS IN HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING DESIGNED TO PREPARE PEOPLE FOR THE FUTURE ECONOMY, WHILE ALSO CULTIVATING A RESILIENT AND SKILLED WORKFORCE. WE CHAMPION INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND WEALTH-BUILDING SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND THE STRENGTHENING OF LOCAL COMMUNITY ASSETS. PATHWAY TO OPPORTUNITY ALSO SUPPORTS COLLABORATIVE, CROSS-SECTOR STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH, INCLUDING EXPANDED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, THE CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENTS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG, SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL NETWORKS.
  2. $2.1 million spent. THE INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT (ILS) IS A TRANSFORMATIVE CONFERENCE DESIGNED FOR VISIONARIES, ENTREPRENEURS, INTRAPRENEURS, AND LEADERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. LED BY CHAIRMAN JAKES, THE VISIONARY FOUNDER, THIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EVENT FEATURES A LINEUP OF DISTINGUISHED INDUSTRY LEADERS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING ATTENDEES. PARTICIPANTS WILL CULTIVATE A RELENTLESS DRIVE FOR INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY-AN ESSENTIAL TRAIT FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP. AT ILS, INDIVIDUALS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS COME TOGETHER TO EXPLORE STRATEGIES AND INSIGHTS THAT ENHANCE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS, FOSTERING GROWTH AND INNOVATION IN LEADERSHIP.
  3. $834,070 spent. DISTINCTIVELY HER'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE, EMPOWER AND EXPAND A COMMUNITY CENTERED ON THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. WE STRIVE TO AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF BY CREATING EXPERIENCES, PRODUCING QUALITY PROGRAMMING AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR ALL WHO ENCOUNTER OUR ORGANIZATION.
  4. $749,580 spent. THE STEAM PROGRAM IS AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACH THAT INTEGRATES SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATHEMATICS TO ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING. BY USING THESE DISCIPLINES AS ACCESS POINTS, THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES INQUIRY, DIALOGUE, AND CRITICAL THINKING AMONG STUDENTS. THIS INTERDISCIPLINARY FRAMEWORK FOSTERS CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION, EQUIPPING LEARNERS WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO TACKLE REAL-WORLD CHALLENGES AND ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL PROBLEM-SOLVING. THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS, THE STEAM PROGRAM INSPIRES STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND CONNECT THESE FIELDS IN IMPACTFUL WAYS.
  5. $338,678 spent. TORI'S MISSION IS TO GUIDE AND EMPOWER RETURNING CITIZENS TO MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL, INCREASING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION INTO A SOCIETY AND TOBECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 April 2020.

    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.