Suburban Balance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To provide educational and cultural opportunities to suburban kids of color to help them experience a well-balanced life while growing up in suburban school districts or attend schools that lack diversity.
- Income
- $150,874
- Spending
- $102,340
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 11.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $62,000, president & ceo
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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 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
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, 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)
- $64,522 spent. In 2024, Suburban Balance held numerous educational forums centered around topics such as education, equity, race relations, career education, college, and the importance of voting. These non-partisan forums were held to build positive relationships with the surrounding communities and school districts, and to also learn about school boards and mayoral candidates running for elected offices. A "Get out the Vote Educational Rally" was held and provided information on voter registration, voting deadlines, polling stations, sample ballots, a plan to vote, and an opportunity to hear from the candidates during the non-partisan candidate forum. Other forums included education forums on what it takes to run for school board, educational and social advocacy series, several educational equity strategy meetings with the Suburban Balance equity team, a virtual informational and educational platform for education that was replayed for new members, and a platform for youth to participate in educational advocacy. Suburban Balance also launched a mental health initiative to help support children and parents who struggle with mental illness. This initiative was launched through the educational programs called LIFT HIM UP and LIFT HER UP for girls.
- $3,712 spent. 50 High school Seniors are graduating out of Suburban Balance and heading off to college or into a certification program or workforce development training program. Suburban helped connect students to paid internships in the careers they are pursuing. Suburban Balance successfully built a relationship with a major school district in Kansas which resulted in the non-profit launching the C.A.R. E. program (college and career access readiness education) to help build the competencies of students to help them navigate applying for college and we have helped connect them to job training and workforce development program called CARE which offers mentors to help support college students through college completion. The organization started recruiting C.A.R.E coaches and now have 10 C.A.R.E. coaches apart of the program. C.A.R.E is an initiative to help change the trajectory of declining college enrollment rates and declining college graduation rates amongst black students. This is a huge accomplishment. Also, over 100 high school students attended the launch and now the program is reaching over 200 students. 99% of students are heading to college or into a workforce development program. Suburban Balance is also building the mindset, behaviors and skillset to teach students about entrepreneurship and starting their own business someday. Exposing them to financial literacy, our motto is the earlier the better.
- $6,000 spent. The number of families getting their children involved in Suburban Balance grew significantly in 2024. Nearly 100 families enrolled their children in our programming. These families receive access to a variety of educational programs, information regarding scholarships, mentoring resources, and the support of advocates who advocate for educational equity on behalf of families. The organization continues to work to remove inequities that create educational and health disparities as Education is a social determinant of health. In 2024 Suburban Balance awarded 6,000 in scholarships to help students go to college.
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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on August 15, 2017.
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 2017.
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.