Rize Prevention Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
As an organization, our vision is to create effective, proven solutions to one of the biggest crises affecting our state and country today- substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders among youth. 3 out of 10 middle school students and 8 out of 10 high school students have used substances at some time in their lives. 90% of adults with a reported substance use disorder began experimenting with nicotine, drugs, or alcohol before the age of 15. Data from CDC?s National Center for Health Statistics (2024): 15% of high school students reported having ever used select illicit or injection drugs, such as cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, or ecstasy. 14% of students reported misusing prescription opioids. Injection drug use places youth at direct risk for HIV, and drug use places youth at risk of overdose. Youth opioid use is directly linked to sexual risk behaviors. 10.9% of eighth graders, 19.8% of 10th graders, and 31.2% of 12th graders reported any il
- Income
- $764,776
- Spending
- $530,266
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 13.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 80%
- Employees
- 8
- Highest pay
- $94,380, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 91 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $375,809 spent. We provide the iRIZE program, which is an evidence-based approach to primary and secondary prevention for youth. iRIZE was built on our innovative, signature prevention methodology and comprehensive relational system of care model. We provide iRIZE free of charge to middle schools in South Carolina, thanks to grants and donations we receive for this program. We have one year remaining in a 4-year pilot study, conducted in collaboration with SC Department of Education and school districts in Upstate SC, to test the efficacy of our evidence-informed approach and our implementation of evidence-based drug prevention programming and peer led social norm interventions. This 4-month program serves students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Access to our CCFC resource tool is given to all students, parents and school staff associated with those schools. We also provide portions of our iRIZE program, along with all our support resources and services to high school students, parents and college students, via high schools, houses of worship and community organizations. During the 2024-25 academic year, RIZE Prevention provided the iRIZE program to 18 middle schools and conducted over 40 program presentations for approximately 7,900 students, parents and school staff. 76% of 6th graders who received our iRIZE program signed the iRIZE Pledge to be drug-free. 81% of 7th graders who received the second year installation of our program signed the pledge. 64% of 8th graders who received the third year of our program signed the pledge. We also provide one-on-one coaching to teens, regardless of if they attend a school that receives our iRIZE program. This coaching is administered through our staff members, each of who are IAAMC certified through The Addictions Academy. During the 2024-25 academic year, we coached over 25 teens, 80% of who chose to remain sober and refrain from drug usage after completing the coaching program. We also connected multiple youth to outside clinical resources to address substance use and/or co-occurring mental health disorders.
- $1,739 spent. We also present our ?RIZE Up! Live Drug-Free.? iRIZE presentation and Power Collective Opioid and Fentanyl Prevention presentation to high schools and to teens and their parents at houses of worship and community centers. This presentation focuses on the iRIZE program philosophy and is sometimes delivered in partnership with local community resource providers, local law enforcement and national law enforcement. These presentations are provided free of charge and is funded by specified donations and grants received by RIZE Prevention. Access to our CCFC resource tool is given to everyone who attends, as well as to the entire Upstate community. We also launched a new workshop designed to educate parents about the teenage brain, effects of substance use on the developing brain, and teaching the principles and skills of parental co-regulation. The total number of attendees for these presentations was approximately 2,750 people.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.