Blue Grit
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
RAISING AWARENESS AND SUPPORTING BLUE-COLLAR TRADES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WELDING). TO SUPPORT AWARENESS PROGRAMS AND PROVIDE GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIPS, THEREBY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PURSUE QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS. THIS EFFORT WILL SUPPORT THE REVIVAL OF THE MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE AND JOB GROWTH IN THE UNITED STATES.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $6.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 66
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $104,392, president, vp, director
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
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 284% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 148% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 67% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 3 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
- $5.3 million spent. OPERATION OF A TECHNICAL SCHOOL TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO BEGIN A CAREER IN WELDING. THIS INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF STUDENT HOUSING WHILE THEY ATTEND SCHOOL. SUPPORT OF THE WELDING INDUSTRY BY OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY MAY OBTAIN THE NEEDED EDUCATION TO BEGIN A CAREER IN WELDING. DURING 2024, OVER 190 SCHOLARSHIPS WERE PROVIDED.
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 2024.
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 March 2023.
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.