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True Initiative

EIN 88-3615707 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRUE INITIATIVE IS AN EDUCATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT WILL ASSIST HAWAII INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES TO BETTER USE, INTEGRATE, AND ADOPT TECHNOLOGY WITH ITS MISSION TO DEVELOP A TECHNOLOGICALLY CAPABLE WORKFORCE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

Income
$423,468
Spending
$393,802
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 37%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$158,049, executive di

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 95% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    10 of 10

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

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $215,739 spent. TRUE WILL HOST SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS, AND WILL ALSO SPONSOR PILOT PROJECTS TO ENCOURAGE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNOLOGY AND ITS USES IN HAWAII. HAWAII HAS TRADITIONALLY BE SLOW TO ADOPT TECHNOLOGY, AND TRUE INTENDS TO REVERSE THAT TREND TO HELP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCCEED, DIVERSIFY HAWAII'S ECONOMY, AND HELP HAWAII BECOME A PLACE WHERE ALL RESIDENCE CAN THRIVE. USE CASES - ON A MONTHLY BASIS, TRUE WILL HOST A SEMINAR TO HIGHLIGHT A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF A TECHNOLOGY OR TOOL THAT HAS IMPACTED AN ORGANIZATION IN EITHER THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR. THE SEMINAR WILL BE ORGANIZED AS AN IN-PERSON GATHERING WITH ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS AND THEIR TEAMS INVITED TO ATTEND TO LISTEN, LEARN, AND NETWORK. THIS WILL CREATE A FORUM TO ENCOURAGE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND INFORMATION SHARING AS PARTICIPANTS CAN COLLABORATE AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHERS' EXPERIENCES. THESE EVENTS WILL BE COMPLIMENTARY TO ALL ATTENDEES. AN EXAMPLE OF AN EVENT IS A SEMINAR ABOUT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTING THE USE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY BY THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS. WORKSHOPS - EACH MONTH, TRUE WILL HOST A LIVE DEMO SESSION TO ALLOW ATTENDEES TO ACTIVATE A TECHNOLOGY TOOL TO TEST OUT ITS CAPABILITIES. THE PURPOSE WILL BE TO DELIVER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ATTENDEES TO TEST AND LEARN FIRST-HAND FROM TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS AND THEIR SOFTWARE SOLUTION ARCHITECTS, ALLOWING THEM TO EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS AND SUPPORTING A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. CONFERENCES - TRUE WILL HOST AN ANNUAL HAWAII CLOUD INNOVATION SUMMIT TO OFFER A THOUGHTFULLY CURATED LINE-UP OF WORLD CLASS THOUGHT LEADERS, USE CASES, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS TO INSPIRE HAWAII TOWARD CLOUD COMPUTING TRANSFORMATION. THE CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE INFORMATIVE PANELS AND SESSIONS FOCUSED ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS, TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. PILOT PROJECTS - TRUE INITIATIVE HAS LAUNCHED THE TRUE ESPORTS AND TECHNOLOGY LAB AT WAIPAHU PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY FACILITY WILL TEACH VALUABLE GAME AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS. THE LAB IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TRUE, THE HAWAII STATE LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND THE STATE OF HAWAII, WITH HARDWARE AND TECHNICAL GUIDANCE CONTRIBUTED BY NONPROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT PARTNERS. CONTENT IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FOR LIBRARY MEMBERS AND WILL SERVE AS A USE CASE AND TEMPLATE TO INTRODUCE TECH-ENABLED LABS IN OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES. COLLABORATION AND WORK-BASED LEARNING PROJECTS - TRUE WILL SPONSOR THE COMMUNITY INNOVATION MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, A WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM FOR PROFESSIONALS TO MENTOR STUDENTS TO SOLVE REAL WORLD PROBLEMS. RECENT EXAMPLES INCLUDE A PROGRAM THROUGH WHICH TRUE MENTORS WORKED WITH STUDENTS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A DIGITAL MARKETING TOOLBOX TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, AND A A PROGRAM IN WHICH TRUE MENTORS WORKED WITH STUDENTS TO DEVELOP AN IN-HOUSE HOTELING APP THAT WOULD ALLOW REMOTE WORKING STAFF TO RESERVE MEETING SPACES. ALL ACTIVITIES WILL BE OPERATED IN HAWAII, AND PROJECTS AND TECHNOLOGIES TO BE FEATURED WILL BE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES. THE ACTIVITIES WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH MEMBERSHIP DUES FROM PARTICIPANTS IN WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES, AS WELL AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. THE HOSTING AND SPONSORSHIP OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WILL FURTHER TRUE'S EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. TRUE WILL HOST SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS, AND WILL ALSO SPONSOR PILOT PROJECTS TO ENCOURAGE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNOLOGY AND ITS USES IN HAWAII. HAWAII HAS TRADITIONALLY BE SLOW TO ADOPT TECHNOLOGY, AND TRUE INTENDS TO REVERSE THAT TREND TO HELP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCCEED, DIVERSIFY HAWAII'S ECONOMY, AND HELP HAWAII BECOME A PLACE WHERE ALL RESIDENCE CAN THRIVE. USE CASES - ON A MONTHLY BASIS, TRUE WILL HOST A SEMINAR TO HIGHLIGHT A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF A TECHNOLOGY OR TOOL THAT HAS IMPACTED AN ORGANIZATION IN EITHER THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR. THE SEMINAR WILL BE ORGANIZED AS AN IN-PERSON GATHERING WITH ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS AND THEIR TEAMS INVITED TO ATTEND TO LISTEN, LEARN, AND NETWORK. THIS WILL CREATE A FORUM TO ENCOURAGE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND INFORMATION SHARING AS PARTICIPANTS CAN COLLABORATE AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHERS' EXPERIENCES. THESE EVENTS WILL BE COMPLIMENTARY TO ALL ATTENDEES. AN EXAMPLE OF AN EVENT IS A SEMINAR ABOUT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTING THE USE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY BY THE STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS. WORKSHOPS - EACH MONTH, TRUE WILL HOST A LIVE DEMO SESSION TO ALLOW ATTENDEES TO ACTIVATE A TECHNOLOGY TOOL TO TEST OUT ITS CAPABILITIES. THE PURPOSE WILL BE TO DELIVER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ATTENDEES TO TEST AND LEARN FIRST-HAND FROM TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS AND THEIR SOFTWARE SOLUTION ARCHITECTS, ALLOWING THEM TO EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS AND SUPPORTING A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. CONFERENCES - TRUE WILL HOST AN ANNUAL HAWAII CLOUD INNOVATION SUMMIT TO OFFER A THOUGHTFULLY CURATED LINE-UP OF WORLD CLASS THOUGHT LEADERS, USE CASES, AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS TO INSPIRE HAWAII TOWARD CLOUD COMPUTING TRANSFORMATION. THE CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE INFORMATIVE PANELS AND SESSIONS FOCUSED ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS, TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. PILOT PROJECTS - TRUE INITIATIVE HAS LAUNCHED THE TRUE ESPORTS AND TECHNOLOGY LAB AT WAIPAHU PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY FACILITY WILL TEACH VALUABLE GAME AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS. THE LAB IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TRUE, THE HAWAII STATE LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND THE STATE OF HAWAII, WITH HARDWARE AND TECHNICAL GUIDANCE CONTRIBUTED BY NONPROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT PARTNERS. CONTENT IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FOR LIBRARY MEMBERS AND WILL SERVE AS A USE CASE AND TEMPLATE TO INTRODUCE TECH-ENABLED LABS IN OTHER PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES. COLLABORATION AND WORK-BASED LEARNING PROJECTS - TRUE WILL SPONSOR THE COMMUNITY INNOVATION MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, A WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM FOR PROFESSION

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

  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 November 6, 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 December 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 September 2022.

    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 November 4, 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.