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Elevate Birmingham

EIN 86-1888140 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILDING LONG-TERM, LIFE-CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUTH, EQUIPPING THEM TO THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

Income
$325,468
Spending
$151,188
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
11.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
4
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$34,625, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    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

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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. $64,971 spent. TEACHING ACCREDITED CLASSES: THE ELEVATE BIRMINGHAM MENTORS ARE CALLED TEACHER-MENTORS BECAUSE THEY TEACH ACCREDITED CLASSES IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. THE TEACHER-MENTORS TEACH EACH CLASS IN TEAMS, MEANING THAT THERE ARE TYPICALLY THREE TEACHER-MENTORS IN EVERY CLASS. THESE MULTIPLE MENTORS ALLOW FOR ROLE MODELS WITH DIFFERENT GENDERS, ETHNICITIES, BACKGROUNDS, AND PERSONALITIES. ELEVATE CLASSES ARE HOLISTIC IN NATURE, PROVIDING INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SKILLS, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGEMENT, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WORK READINESS EXPLORATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND POST-HIGH SCHOOL PLANNING. ELEVATE HAS A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM FOR 4TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES. EVERY LESSON IS ALIGNED WITH COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES. THESE CLASSES INCORPORATE THIRTEEN VITAL CHARACTER AND LIFE SKILLS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP THE PERSONAL CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP ABILITIES AND CAPABILITIES NEEDED FOR SUCCESS. THROUGH THIS INTENSIVE HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL CURRICULUM, TEACHER-TENTORS ARE WITH MENTEES EVERY SCHOOL DAY AND BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM. EACH TEAM OF TEACHER-MENTORS TEACHES TWO TO THREE CLASSES PER DAY, OR APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THEIR DAY. THE OTHER 50% OF THEIR TIME IS SPENT IN THE SECOND ELEVATE PROGRAM AREA - MENTORING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
  2. $25,328 spent. MENTORING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL: THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE MENTORING PROGRAM. THE TEACHER-MENTORS SPEND TIME WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL, IN THE EVENINGS, ON WEEKENDS, THROUGHOUT HOLIDAYS AND SUMMER VACATION. THEY HOST LARGE GROUP ACTIVITIES, SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES, AND ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH THE STUDENTS. ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, THERE MAY BE A GROUP OF STUDENTS GOING WITH TEACHER-MENTOR MEETING FOR COFFEE WITH ONE STUDENT. DURING THE YEAR, 40% OF OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SMALL GROUP MENTORING PROGRAM AND 60% OF OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE LARGE GROUP MENTORING PROGRAM.
  3. $13,215 spent. ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES: ELEVATE BIRMINGHAM BELIEVES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GROW THROUGH BEING CHALLENGED AND HAVING FUN. THEREFORE, ELEVATE HOSTS LARGE AND SMALL GROUP ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE MAY INCLUDE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HIKING, SUMMER CAMP, OVERNIGHT CAMPING, FISHING, WATER GRIT, EXPOSES THEM TO NEW EXPERIENCES, AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR MENTORS. 60% OF ELEVATE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN AN ADVENTURE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
  4. $6,607 spent. COLLEGE AND CAREER: THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SMALL GROUP ACTIVIES, COLLEGE VISITS, AND IN-CLASS CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES, ALL ELEVATE MENTEES GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING THEIR SKILLS AND DESIRES FOR THEIR FUTURE. THE MENTORS, THEN, HELP EACH MENTEE DEVELOP A PERSONAL PLAN FOR THEIR LIVES FOR WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THE MENTORS FOLLOW UP WITH THEM THROUGH THE SUMMER AND FIRST YEAR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, BETTER ENSURING THEY ARE NOT LOST IN THE TRANSITION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 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.