Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Upswing Foundation

EIN 85-3622275 · Lakewood, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceGood70 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

UPSWING FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO CATAPULT DREAMS AND CONNECT PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY BY (I) PROVIDING FIRST-RATE RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSERVED YOUTH. (II) UNIFYING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES VIA EDUCATION, WHIMSY & GATHERING. (III) BUILDING & MAINTAINING SPORTS FACILITY THAT EMPOWERS & INSPIRES ALL. (IV) SUPPORTING OTHER NONPROFIT AND FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALIGN BOTH IN MISSION AND APPLICATION OF FOUNDATION'S AIM.

Income
$915,746
Spending
$3.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
75.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 70%
Employees
22
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$378,102, ceo (thru 6/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 75.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 268% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 3 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 30, 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 (4)
  1. $2.3 million spent. ENRICHMENT, SCHOLARSHIPS, ATHLETIC FACILITY:UPSWING HAS BUILT AND MAINTAINS THE STATE-OF-THE-ART YOUTH SPORTS FACILITY KNOWN AS UPSWING CENTENNIAL FOR SPORTS PERFORMANCE, RECOVERY AND DANCE. AT UPSWING CENTENNIAL, UPSWING PROVIDES SPECIALIZED SPORTS TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENT-ATHLETES WHO DO NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO OBTAIN SUCH SPORTS TRAINING.OUR UPSWING EXPERIENCE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDES ASPIRING ATHLETES WITH ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY PERFORMANCE TRAINING AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS AVAILABLE, HELPING BUILD SPEED, STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, AND OVERALL HEALTH BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF STANDARD SPORTS SEASONS.IN FISCAL 2025, THE ORGANIZATION ADDED UPSWING TRACK, WHICH PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND SPRINT AND SPEED TRAINING FOR ATHLETES AGES 6-19. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TECHNIQUE, POWER, MOBILITY, CONFIDENCE-BUILDING, AND COMPETITION OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS COLORADO AND SELECT OUT-OF-STATE MEETS.
  2. $325,631 spent. HUMANITARIAN:GRANTS TO DOMESTIC ORGANIZATIONS: UPSWING PROVIDES GRANTS TO DOMESTIC ORGANIZATIONS EXEMPT FROM TAXATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE CODE THAT SUPPORT THE UPSWING FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF CATAPULTING DREAMS AND CONNECTING PEOPLE BY SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES THAT PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND BUILD SCHOOLS FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH, IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THEIR ATHLETIC ENDEAVOURS AS WELL AS RELIGIOUS AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE WORLD THAT SUCH YOUTH OCCUPY.
  3. $213,992 spent. MILE HIGH PREP:MILE HIGH PREP IS A DENVER-BASED SPRING FOOTBALL PROGRAM FOR CURRENTLY ENROLLED HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES SEEKING ADVANCED COACHING, STRUCTURED PRACTICES, AND COMPETITIVE TRAVEL GAMES. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT, NOT REPLACE, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, ALLOWING ATHLETES TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING OUTSIDE THE FALL SEASON WHILE MAINTAINING ELIGIBILITY FOR THEIR SCHOOL TEAMS. ATHLETES ARE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAT FOCUSES ON APPLICATION MATERIALS, COACHING ASSESSMENTS AND POSITIONAL NEEDS WITHOUT REGARD FOR ANY ATHLETE'S ABILITY TO AFFORD PARTICIPATION IN MILE HIGH PREP. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO ALL ATHLETES ELIGIBLE FOR NEEDS BASED ASSISTANCE SO THEY CAN BREAK THE BARRIERS TYPICALLY RELATED TO PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIVE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS OUTSIDE THEIR SCHOOLS.
  4. $208,702 spent. UPSWING FOUNDATION MAINTAINS A RETREAT HOME AND EDUCATION FACILITY (PREVIOUSLY THE RETREAT HOME) TO SUPPORT GENERAL WELL-BEING, MENTAL HEALTH, AND DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDE RETREATS FOR CHILDREN FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.UPSWING ALSO ENGAGES IN EXPLORATORY ACTIVITIES TO CREATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A YOUTH GYMNASTICS FACILITY IN RWANDA, WHICH DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A FACILITY DEDICATED SOLELY TO GYMNASTICS TRAINING, CREDENTIALED COACHES, OR REGULATION EQUIPMENT FOR EVENTS/COMPETITIONS.IN ADDITION, UPSWING ENGAGES IN VARIOUS IMMATERIAL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 September 2023.

    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.