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Ascend Cares Foundation

EIN 90-0709302 · Houston, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ASCEND CARES FOUNDATION (THE "CORPORATION") IS ORGANIZED AND SHALL BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 IN FURTHERANCE OF SUCH PURPOSES, THE CORPORATION SHALL PROVIDE AID TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL OR CIVIL DISASTERS OR EMERGENCY HARDSHIPS AND SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE AID TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL OR CIVIL DISASTERS OR EMERGENCY HARDSHIPS. ASCEND CARES COORDINATES VOLUNTEERS AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND SAFETY, EDUCATION, HOUSING, HUNGER AND THE MILITARY.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$896,038
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
8,834

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 12 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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $658,906 spent. THE ASCEND CARES FOUNDATION SERVES ALL AREAS WHERE ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS HAS A PRESENCE BY FUNDING VARIOUS NONPROFITS PROGRAMS, AND PROJECTS BENEFITTING THE NEEDY AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
  2. $139,150 spent. THE ASCEND CARES FOUNDATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. APPLICANTS EXPLAIN THEIR FINANCIAL NEED AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN AN ESSAY FORMAT; PAYMENTS ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL. TO BE ELIGIABLE, APPLICANTS MUST ATTEND A 4 YEAR COLLEGE OR JUNIOR COLLEGE, AND MUST BE CHILDREN OR DEPENDENTS OF EMPLOYEES IN GOOD STANDING. IN 2024, 93 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED.
  3. $86,954 spent. THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO SUPPORT SEVERAL ASCEND EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DURING ILLNESS OR DISASTER. TO BE ELIGIBLE THE EMPLOYEE FILLS OUT AN APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE AND IS APPROVED BY THE ASCEND CARES COMMITTEE. 28 HARDSHIP GRANTS WERE GIVEN DURING 2024.
  4. $11,028 spent. ORGANIZATION EXPENSES

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 August 2011.

    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.