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Blue Rising

EIN 86-2707421 · Superior, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE BELIEVE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE HEALTHY RISKS, EXPLORE LIFE AND MAKE MISTAKES SAFELY WITHOUT LIFE-ALTERING CONSEQUENCES THAT CHANGE THEIR FUTURES. WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE KIDS CAN ENTER ADULTHOOD WITHOUT THE EMOTIONAL SCARS AND TRAUMA THAT ARE PART OF STRUGGLIING TO RECOVER FROM A HIGH-POTENCY THC MARIJUANA ADDICTION, HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS DIE FROM FENTANYL POISONING, AND EXPERIENCING THE ANXIETY AND GRIEF THAT COMES FROM THE EVER-PRESENT THREAT OF GUN VIOLENCE. THIS GENERATION OF KIDS IS FACING NEW AND COMPLEX CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES. THE RISK LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED. COMMONSENSE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS NEED TO BE DEVELOPED, AND ADAPTED TO KEEP UP THE FAST-PACED CHANGES.

Income
$276,001
Spending
$272,313
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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. $153,896 spent. BLUE RISING HELD 3 REGIONAL NONPARTISAN LUNCHES COVERING 5 COUNTIES- ADAMS, JEFFERSON, DOUGLAS, EL PASO, AND TELLER. MORE THAN 50 ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS PARTICIPATED TOGETHER WITH CONTENT EXPERTS, YOUTH AND FAMILIES. BR BRIEFED AND PARTNERED WITH 10 NEW ORGANIZATIONS, ENSURING THEY UNDERSTAND THE CORRELATION TO THE HARMS OF HIGH-POTENCY THC MARIJUANA, FENTANYL POISONINGS RISKS AND WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS DANGEROUS DRUGS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. BR WORKED TO ENSURE THAT THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEATH CONTINUED RECEIVING FUNDING TO SUPPORT THEIR STATEWIDE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF BR'S PREVIOUS YEARS' POLICY EFFORTS TO REDUCE TEEN ACCESS TO MARIJUANA,THE NUMBER OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARDS FOR 18-20 YEAR OLDS HAS DROPPED OVER FOUR YEARS. BLUE RISING ALSO WORKS TO EDUCATE POLICY MAKERS FROM LOCAL TO STATEWIDE ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING THE LIVES OF TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
  2. $93,417 spent. BLUE RISING (BR) REACHED 65,000 STUDENTS WITH IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE RISKS AND AND PREVALANCE OF FENTANYL THROUGH THE "YOU CAN'T OUTSMART FENTANYL" EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. AS PART OF THE PROGRAM, BR DISTRIBUTED 35,400 EDUCATION MATERIALS TO STUDENTS AT 13 COLLEGES AND 10 HIGH SCHOOLS, RAN A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN GEOFENCING CAMPUSES THAT GENERATED 2 MILLION EXPOSURES AND 3,195 CLICK INTERACTIONS. ADDITIONALLY BR TRAINED 165 STUDENTS AND FACULTY ON THE WARNING SIGNS OF FENTANYL POISONING AND HOW TO INTERVENE AND REACHED 525 STUDENTS THROUGH PRESENTATIONS AND ON-CAMPUS STUDENT EVENTS.
  3. $25,000 spent. ENGAGE, TRAIN AND MOBILIZE YOUTH AND FAMILIES. BLUE RISING CONDUCTS TRAININGS TO IMPACTED YOUTH AND FAMILIES ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY TELL THEIR STORIES TO POLICY MAKERS AND THE MEDIA TO SHIFT AND INFORM STATE WIDE POLICY. THE ISSUES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FACING RANGE FROM ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SOCIAL MEDIA HARMS, AND LOSS OF A CHILD TO THESE HARMS.

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 May 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.