Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hero Workshop

EIN 85-3534025 · Culver City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceWeak44 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

The Hero Workshop is an interactive storytelling community where young people come together in a safe and welcoming space to play tabletop role-playing games. Through these shared adventures participants build confidence develop leadership skills and strengthen their collaboration and narrative abilities. Our programs foster essential soft skills-such as communicating creative ideas building consensus and making informed group decisions-while also supporting academic growth in areas like math problem-solving reading writing and storytelling.

Income
$794,361
Spending
$738,007
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 73%
Employees
17
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$60,000, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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

    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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
  1. $542,477 spent. The Hero Workshop delivers dynamic after-school enrichment programs that spark imagination foster academic growth in numeracy and algebraic thinking and build logic and problem-solving skills through teamwork collaboration and storytelling. This year we welcomed 31.8% more youth participants benefiting students from 9 local schools. In addition to our school-year offerings we host camps and workshops during spring summer and winter breaks. Our workshops nurture creativity self-awareness leadership and teamwork. This transformative program empowers teens and young adults to navigate identity transitions and personal growth-going beyond traditional mentorship. We also introduced a one-of-a-kind Story-Based Athletics Program featuring sword fighting and fitness classes that encourage participants to get active while engaging in imaginative adventures. To support our programs The Hero Workshop sells game-related merchandise-including dice figurines and shirts-which helps fund our mission and events.
  2. $37,704 spent. Keeping true to our motto Never turn a kid away! Hero Workshops sponsors a scholarship program that helps underprivileged youth participate in our programs by assisting with or fully covering membership camp and clinic fees. During the year Hero Workshops allocated 7% of its revenue to directly support participating youth by removing financial barriers to access.

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 January 2022.

    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.