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Vida Valiente Foundation

EIN 85-2650889 · San Clemente, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VIDA VALIENTE IS ALL ABOUT PERSEVERANCE, RESILIENCE, AND THE BRAVERY IT TAKES TO BE THE FIRST TO DIVE INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY. THE VIDA VALIENTE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET THEMSELVES THROUGH SCHOOL, BUT WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM LEADERSHIP FROM ROLE MODELS WHO GREW UP IN SIMILAR LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS. THE FOUNDATION PLEDGES TO SUPPORT 25 STUDENTS A YEAR, FOR THE ENTIRE FOUR YEARS OF THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY. THE SCHOLARS THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO OVERCOME. 90% OF FIRST GENERATION LOW INCOME STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES TAKE OVER 6 YEARS TO GRADUATE. 33% DROP OUT AFTER THREE YEARS. BETWEEN COURSES, JOBS, A LACK OF LEADERSHIP, AND THE SHEER OVERWHELMINGNESS OF LEAVING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT IS A WONDER EVEN 10% OF THESE KIDS MAKE IT. THE VIDA VALIENTE FOUNDATION IS EQUIPPED TO GIVE THESE STUDENTS THE CONFIDENCE, GRACE AND SKILLS TO CONVERT THEIR PROVEN WORK ETHIC INTO THEIR OWN SUCCESS STORIES.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$744,376
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
23.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 240% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $689,180 spent. SUPPORTING FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP. Our program is a combination of last-dollar scholarships for four years of college as well as a built-in leadership program established to support students as they navigate through the valleys and summits of their collegiate journey.

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 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 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 January 2021.

    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.