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Choose Kindness Foundation

EIN 86-2440901 · Eugene, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair53 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SPREAD KINDNESS AND TO INCREASE THE WELL-BEING AND HAPPINESS OF INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING KINDNESS GRANTS AND SUPPORTING THIS WORK IN SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND PUBLIC SAFETY. TO SUPPORT SOCIAL JUSTICE, POVERTY ALLEVIATION, CHARITABLE ASSISTANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABLITY, AND PROJECTS THAT MAKE A MORE KIND, JUST, AND COMPASSIONATE WORLD.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
7
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$143,645, executive dir.

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 104% 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 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

    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

    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 (5)
  1. $604,331 spent. KINDR Prisons Initiative:Rebranded as the KINDR Prisons Initiative and developed new marketing materials consistent with the new branding.Continued to offer three correspondence courses in all 34 prisons in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), enrolling approximately 300 incarcerated persons over the course of the year in mindful kindness and personal development correspondence.
  2. $332,393 spent. KINDR SCHOOLS INITIATIVE:Rebranded as the KINDR Schools Initiative and developed new marketing materials consistent with the new branding.Funded 5 new schools to implement PBIS School Kindness projects during the fall semester 2024-25 school year, covering 5 states, engaging 3,500 new students in Kindness Projects. Funded continuation grants for 37 Schools in 14 states and Guam to implement PBIS School Kindness projects during the 2024-25 school year engaging approximately 26,000 students in continuing kindness projects. Developed and field-tested two program editions for teaching mindful kindness to elementary and middle school students in Tier 2 interventions: KINDR Kids and Stepping Stones to Lasting Happiness, Lets Talk About It.Developed a KINDR Workplaces component for training administrators, faculty, and school staff. Created a new, comprehensive school model for implementing KINDR Curricula across Tier 1 and Tier 2 in MTSS and PBIS schools.
  3. $322,088 spent. KINDR Workplace Initiative:Reinstituted and expanded our focus on kindness training in the workplace. Rebranded as the KINDR Workplace Initiative and developed new marketing materials consistent with the new branding.Recruited two top-of-their-field experts to develop the KINDR Workplaces Ecosystem Model and training modulesBegan marketing campaign to develop KINDR Workplaces training into a revenue stream for the foundationDeveloped a partnership with a major tech company to develop coursework and a KINDR certification to be offered on their platform.Provided training on the KINDR Workplaces Ecosystem for 50 individuals at the Kindness Effect Summit.
  4. $107,399 spent. KINDR Communities Initiative:Rebranded as the KINDR Communities Initiative and developed new marketing materials consistent with the new branding.Funded 3 major community-based projects reaching over 2000 disadvantaged youth who were predominately Black, Hispanic, Native American, and other peoples of color. In each of these projects the average participant had experienced a high number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that place them in the at-risk or highly at-risk category.oThe Exception.org: MLK Middle School Project for teaching mindful kindness skills, Riverside, CA.oFunded a Kindful Restoration Grant in Riverside Co, California, to implement community-based services for justice involved individuals by establishing:oan adult reentry programoa diversionary program for juvenilesoa reentry program for juvenilesContinued funding of BreakThrough Miami Kindness Project. The program expanded to 2 additional campuses and served 1700 students in Saturday Programs and Summer School.
  5. $28,994 spent. Community Outreach:Held the first Kindness Effect Summit in New York City in November and provided workplace ecosystem training on the second day of the summit.Convened a National Kindness Council involving other NGOs in the kindness space to begin meeting biannually. This council promotes collaboration among NGOs and their shared goals.The Foundation was invited to become a member of the Satell Institute that promotes corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. The Foundation developed partnerships with Kindness Worldwide.org, Kindness.org, and Kindworks AI.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.