Secure Our Schools Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 17% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 104 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The Secure Our Schools Foundation supports school districts and individual K-12 school sites through advice, training, and technical systems as required to improve their safety and security. The Foundation will provide their primary benefits by supporting the on-site school staff to be more efficient and effective in responding to unplanned events.
- Income
- $129,745
- Spending
- $161,956
- Spent on programs
- 17%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $137,500, director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.
Spending floor
0 of 1517% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 104 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
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, 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 (3)
- $27,500 spent. 1. Tulsa Area United Way Day of Caring - September 12, 2025 Days of Caring is a decades-long volunteering tradition that expresses our community's philanthropic spirit. Groups of volunteers give their time throughout the year to various service opportunities to help their neighbors and strengthen our nonprofit community.
- 2. Santa Ana Unified School District Resilient Schools Initiative - SAUSD - November 2025 Worked with the Santa Ana Unified School District to create the Resilient Schools Initiative - Santa Ana, a comprehensive district-wide school safety program. Additinally, provided Santa Ana Unified School District with grant writing and applicatin assistance for the BJA FY25 Students, Teachers, and Officers Prevention (STOP) School Violence Program
- 3. RSM Christian School Resilient Schools Initiative - RSM - December, 2025 Worked with the Rancho Santa Margarita Christian School to create the Resilient Schools Initiative - RSM, a comprehensive district-wide school safety program. Additinally, provided grant writing and application assistance for the 2025 California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP).
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.