Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Foot Soldiers Park Inc

EIN 86-1479452 · Selma, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 43% of its spending went to programs.

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

What it says it does

FOOT SOLDIERS PARK AND EDUCATION CENTER EXISTS TO HONOR THE GIANTS AND UNSUNG HEROES AND SHEROES OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WHO LIVED, FOUGHT AND MADE HISTORY IN SELMA AND TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND NURTURE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
43%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
7
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$143,400, founding partner 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 106% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    43% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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 (3)
  1. $635,818 spent. THE CIVIC AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM AT FOOT SOLDIERS PARK NURTURES YOUNG LEADERS COMMITTED TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE THE YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD (YAB), COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CORPS (CEC), YOU OWNING UP TO YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE SYSTEM (YOURS), AND THE STANDING ON BUSINESS COLLECTIVE. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE YOUTH WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE BY FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CIVIC EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, LEGAL AND ADVOCACY EXERCISES, WORKSHOPS, VOTER REGISTRATION, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING. FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS, DONATIONS, AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, THE PROGRAM ENSURES SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH CONTINUOUS OUTREACH FOR FUNDING, IMPACT DEMONSTRATION, AND FOSTERING STRONG COMMUNITY TIES., ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, SPECIAL CAMPAIGN.
  2. $145,778 spent. THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY PROGRAM AT FOOT SOLDIERS PARK AIMS TO TACKLE ECONOMIC INEQUITY BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. THROUGH INITIATIVES LIKE THE FAMILY EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE, THE PROGRAM OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, AND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THESE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, PROMOTE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE, AND BUILD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. BY ADDRESSING BOTH IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND LONG-TERM CAPABILITIES, THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND GROWTH. FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM IS SECURED THROUGH GRANTS, DONATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, ENSURING SUSTAINED SUPPORT AND IMPACTFUL OUTCOMES.
  3. $120,409 spent. THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM AT FOOT SOLDIERS PARK IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND HONORING SELMAS RICH CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF HISTORIC SITES, MONUMENTS, AND ARTIFACTS THAT COMMEMORATE THE STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. EDUCATIONAL TOURS, HISTORICAL EXHIBITS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE ORGANIZED TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND PROMOTE AWARENESS OF SELMAS HERITAGE. BY PARTNERING WITH HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SELMAS CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

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 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 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.