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Businesses United in Investing Lending and Development

EIN 94-3386695 · Redwood City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILD'S MISSION IS TO IGNITE THE POWER OF YOUTH IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES TO BUILD CAREER SUCCESS, ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSETS, AND OPPORTUNITY. WE HELP STUDENTS BECOME THE CEO OF THEIR OWN LIVES! BUILD FACILITATES THE LAUNCHING OF STUDENT-RUN (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) SMALL BUSINESSES, VIA VIRTUAL SIMULATION AND HANDS ON LEARNING, AND TEACHES STUDENTS THE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS NEEDED TO IMPROVE THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND HELP THEM PREPARE FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. OUR YOUTH ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN THEIR POST-SECONDARY ENDEAVOURS.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
110
Volunteers
483
Highest pay
$243,195, president & interim ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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)
  1. $1.8 million spent. YEAR 1: BUILD YOUR BUSINESS (Y1) FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, AND SENIOR YEAR BUILD YOUR BUSINESS STUDENTS GAIN AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND HOW BUILD WANTS THEM TO BECOME THE CEO OF THEIR OWN LIVES. THEY USE THE HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN PROCESS TO CREATE AND PITCH AN ORIGINAL PRODUCT IDEA TO VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONALS. THEY BUILD OUT THESE IDEAS INTO BUSINESS PITCH DECKS THAT THEY PRESENT IN A CULMINATING BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION EVENT.
  2. $1.8 million spent. YEAR 2: BUILD YOUR VOICE (Y2) FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, AND SENIOR YEAR IN BUILD YOUR VOICE, STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE VOICE AND BRAND (BOTH PERSONAL AND BUSINESS) AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY TO COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE SUCCESS. THEY CONTINUE BUILDING THEIR SKILLS IN PRODUCT DESIGN, MARKETING, PRODUCTION, FINANCES AND SALES, FINISHING THE YEAR WITH A SELLING EVENT AND PORTFOLIO PITCH.
  3. $1.2 million spent. YEAR 3: BUILD YOUR FUTURE (Y3) JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR BUILD YOUR FUTURE IS THE BRIDGE THAT LINKS ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AND MINDSETS THAT OUR STUDENTS DEVELOP IN Y1 AND Y2 TO THEIR PATHWAYS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. OUR Y3 STUDENTS LEARN TO BE CEOS - THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO BE CAREER-FOCUSED, ENTERPRISING, AND OPPORTUNITY-ORIENTED. THROUGH THEIR BUILD EXPERIENCE, THEY ARE EXPANDING THEIR SOCIAL AND NAVIGATIONAL CAPITAL. THEY'RE GROWING THEIR NETWORKS, AND LEARNING HOW TO UTILIZE THESE NETWORKS AND RESOURCES TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. BUILD YOUR FUTURE EMPOWERS BUILD STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT POTENTIAL PATHWAYS AND HOW TO ACCESS THEM. THEY ARE SETTING THEMSELVES UP TO BE SUCCESSFUL NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PATHWAY IS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 June 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 August 2001.

    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 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.