Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Tolson Center Inc

EIN 85-3459631 · Elkhart, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TOLSON CENTER FOR COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE EMPOWERS LIVES THROUGH INCLUSIVE LEARNING, RECREATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE, OPENING DOORS TO BRIGHT FUTURES.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
26
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$87,015, executive di

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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 68% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    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

    10 of 10

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

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $788,059 spent. YOUTH PROGRAMS: TOLSON YOUTH CHOIR: A YOUTH CHOIR IN COLLABORATION WITH GOSHEN COLLEGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. WEEKLY, STUDENTS IN GRADES 3- 12TH PRACTICE TRADITIONAL CHORAL ARRANGEMENTS. THE STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO READ MUSIC AND PERFORM AT LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND IN PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM IS FREE FOR STUDENTS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: OPENING PERFORMANCE FOR THE TOLSON CENTER FOR COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE GRAND OPENING, PERFORMANCE AT TWO LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. PERFORM AT TOLSON JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, AND HAS SERVED ROUGHLY 25 KIDS. CAREERWISE ELKHART COUNTY MODERN YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS: CWEC IS A MODERN YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR JUNIOR AND SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THEY EARN WAGES AND GAIN RELEVANT WORK SKILLS. UPON COMPLETION OF THE APPRENTICESHIP, STUDENTS EARN A NATIONAL CREDENTIAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. APPRENTICES WORK 16 HOURS A WEEK WORKING TOWARD COMPLETING COMPETENCIES RELATED TO THEIR CAREER PATH OF INTEREST. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: TOLSON HOSTED ITS FIRST TWO APPRENTICES. YOUTH PROGRAMS: TOLSON YOUTH CHOIR: A YOUTH CHOIR IN COLLABORATION WITH GOSHEN COLLEGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. WEEKLY, STUDENTS IN GRADES 3- 12TH PRACTICE TRADITIONAL CHORAL ARRANGEMENTS. THE STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO READ MUSIC AND PERFORM AT LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND IN PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM IS FREE FOR STUDENTS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: OPENING PERFORMANCE FOR THE TOLSON CENTER FOR COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE GRAND OPENING, PERFORMANCE AT TWO LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. PERFORM AT TOLSON JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, AND HAS SERVED ROUGHLY 25 KIDS. CAREERWISE ELKHART COUNTY MODERN YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS: CWEC IS A MODERN YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR JUNIOR AND SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THEY EARN WAGES AND GAIN RELEVANT WORK SKILLS. UPON COMPLETION OF THE APPRENTICESHIP, STUDENTS EARN A NATIONAL CREDENTIAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. APPRENTICES WORK 16 HOURS A WEEK WORKING TOWARD COMPLETING COMPETENCIES RELATED TO THEIR CAREER PATH OF INTEREST. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: TOLSON HOSTED ITS FIRST TWO APPRENTICES.
  2. $33,260 spent. ADULT PROGRAMS INCLUDING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT: FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT SESSIONS ARE IN COLLABORATION WITH INOVA FEDERAL. THE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT FROM A FINANCIAL EXPERT TO SUPPORT AN INDIVIDUAL'S FINANCIAL GOALS. THE SESSIONS ARE BASED ON PARTICIPANTS' NEEDS AND WANTS, AND ARE HELD AT THE TOLSON CENTER. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: SERVING 5 INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS
  3. $164,063 spent. READ WITH ME: READ WITH ME IS A PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH ELKHART ROTARY AND COUNCIL ON AGING DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EARLY READING LITERACY FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN TO SIXTH GRADE. AN ELDER FROM COUNCIL ON AGING WOULD COME AND READ TO THE STUDENTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: A STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ELKHART PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS ESTABLISHED AND 5 KIDS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. MUSIC TOGETHER BABIES: MUSIC TOGETHER BABIES IS IN COLLABORATION WITH GOSHEN COLLEGE. THE PROGRAM IS AN 8 WEEK PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS AND BABIES RANGING IN AGE FROM 0 TO 9 MONTHS. THE PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN A WEEKLY MUSIC SESSION LED BY AN INSTRUCTOR. A CD AND SONGBOOK ARE PROVIDED TO PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE MUSIC WITH THEIR INFANT. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: SUPPORTING 5 PARENTS/CAREGIVERS AND 5 INFANTS.
  4. READ WITH ME: READ WITH ME IS A PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH ELKHART ROTARY AND COUNCIL ON AGING DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EARLY READING LITERACY FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN TO SIXTH GRADE. AN ELDER FROM COUNCIL ON AGING WOULD COME AND READ TO THE STUDENTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: A STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ELKHART PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS ESTABLISHED AND 5 KIDS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. MUSIC TOGETHER BABIES: MUSIC TOGETHER BABIES IS IN COLLABORATION WITH GOSHEN COLLEGE. THE PROGRAM IS AN 8 WEEK PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS AND BABIES RANGING IN AGE FROM 0 TO 9 MONTHS. THE PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN A WEEKLY MUSIC SESSION LED BY AN INSTRUCTOR. A CD AND SONGBOOK ARE PROVIDED TO PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE MUSIC WITH THEIR INFANT. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: SUPPORTING 5 PARENTS/CAREGIVERS AND 5 INFANTS.

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 October 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 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.