Growth Opportunities Through Athletics Learning & Service Goals
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH ATHLETICS, LEARNING AND SERVICE (GOALS) IS DEVOTED TO REMOVAL OF BARRIERS SO THAT LESS PRIVILEGED CHILDREN MAY FREELY ENJOY ORGANIZED SPORTS, ACCESS QUALITY EDUCATION, AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS. THE ORGANIZATION CREATES AFTER SCHOOL AND WEEKEND PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHS BUILT AROUND ATHLETICS, LEARNING AND SERVICE ENRICHMENT.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 56%
- Reserves
- -32.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 58%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $121,680, chair
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 36% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1556% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (1)
- $821,652 spent. GOALS OPERATES OVER 20 ENRICHMENT AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AGES 6 TO 19 YEARS OF AGE. ALL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE IN SPECIFICALLY TARGETED DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAMS OPERATE UNDER THREE FUNDAMENTAL THEMES OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN ATHLETICS, LEARNING ENRICHMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO HELP OTHERS.DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR GOALS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $359,040 IN DONATED SERVICES AND $857,000 IN DONATED USE OF FACILITIES FROM LOCAL CITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BUSINESSES IN SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS. A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF MAJOR GOALS PROGRAMS OPERATIVE DURING FY 9/30/2025GOALS FOR VALADEZ: PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS PROGRAM OPERATES MONDAY-FRIDAY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR (LATE AUGUST THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MID-JUNE). GOALS PROVIDES A BLEND OF ALL FREE SERVICES FEATURING DAILY ORGANIZED SPORTS PROGRAMS, HOMEWORK HELP TO ASSURE ALL SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS ARE MET, AND WEEKLY FIELD TRIPS FOR GENERAL ENRICHMENT. PROGRAM YOUTH PARTICIPATION AVERAGED IN THE 90-120 RANGE AND THIS MET STATE AND LOCAL EXPECTATIONS FOR SOLID "ASES" INVOLVEMENT FIGURES FOR THE FULL PROGRAM YEAR. TOTAL (DUPLICATE COUNTS) YOUTH SERVED = 18,000. GOALS FOR OAK VIEW: ALSO CONTINUED TO THRIVE AS AN AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM UNDER CONTRACT WITH OCEAN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. THIS GOALS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM FEATURES FREE DAILY ON-SITE ACTIVITIES FEATURING ATHLETICS, HOMEWORK HELP AND VARIOUS OTHER SUPPORT PROGRAMS. MUCH LIKE THE GOALS FOR VALADEZ PROGRAM. THIS CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR MONDAY TO FRIDAY AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AT THE OAK VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN OPERATED FOR 12 YEARS IN PARTNERSHIP AND UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE OCEAN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT. DAILY PARTICIPATION AVERAGED CLOSE TO 80 UNDERSERVED YOUTH OVER THE 180-DAY PROGRAM PERIOD (TOTALING SOME 14,480 STUDENT TOTALS/DUPLICATE COUNTS). GOALS FOR ABC (A BETTER COMMUNITY): THE GOALS ABC INITIATIVE AND FACILITIES CONTINUED AT FULL CAPACITY THIS YEAR AND FEATURED BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE GOALS CLUBHOUSE (RESTORED BY GOALS IN 2018). GOALS PROVIDED FREE "WALK-IN" AFTER SCHOOL SERVICES FOR AN AVERAGE OF 100 YOUNGSTERS EACH WEEK. IN ADDITION, GOALS HOSTED TWO MAJOR COMMUNITY "CLOTHES DRIVES AND DISTRIBUTED AN ESTIMATED $150,000 WORTH OF DONATED QUALITY CLOTHING TO NEEDY FAMILIES. MULTIPLE FIELD TRIPS TO AREA PARKS AND OTHER MAIN GOALS FACILITIES IN CENTRAL ANAHEIM (WITH FREE BUS TRANSIT) WERE ALSO ARRANGED. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2025 GOALS ALSO OPERATED EXTENDED SUMMER HOURS SO THAT COMMUNITY YOUTH WOULD HAVE A SAFE HARBOR FOR READING, PLAY, AND SOCIALIZING. MULTIPLE OTHER GOALS LOCATIONS: WHICH CONTINUE TO FEATURE AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS AT RIO VISTA, RUBY DRIVE, MELROSE AND TYNES ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE PLACENTIA YORBA LINDA SCHOOL DISTRICT. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, GOALS PROVIDED A 32 WEEK "LEARN TO PLAY HOCKEY" PROGRAM FOR 125 CHILDREN (ALL FREE OF COURSE). THIS INCLUDED A CLASSROOM CURRICULUM, ON-SITE SCHOOL SKILL TRAINING SESSIONS WEEKLY, AND OFF-SITE TRAVEL TO GOALS RINK SITES FOR HOCKEY TRAINING, SCRIMMAGES, SKATING AND ICE HOCKEY GAMES. ALL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE. GOALS REVIVED OUR "EVERYBODY COUNTS": IN-PERSON SUPPORT FOR OUR DIFFERENTLY ABLED NEIGHBORS. TYPICALLY, THIS WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEARBY NOT FOR PROFIT "MY DAY COUNTS" PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ENRICHMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WITH "DIFFERENT ABILITIES" (ONCE REFERRED TO ERRONEOUSLY AS DISABILITIES!). GOALS HAS OPERATED THERAPEUTIC RECREATION PROGRAMS, ART PROGRAMS AND GARDENING PROGRAMS WHILE INTEGRATING SOME SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF, AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS, PROGRAM INTERNS, AND YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN OUR GOALS CADETS PROGRAM. SOME 150 PARTICIPANTS ARE TYPICALLY INVOLVED ANNUALLY. GOALS CADETS & THE SUMMER OF SERVICE: TYPICALLY, GOALS OPERATES A MAJOR REGIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS WHICH INCLUDES GOALS PARTICIPANTS FROM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AGE UP THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGES. THE PROGRAM HAS FEATURED THE INCLUSION OF "SUMMER ASSOCIATES" SUPPORTED BY THE AMERICORPS VISTA NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SUMMER ASSOCIATES PROGRAM WAS ON HIATUS DUE TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUTBACKS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2024 AND SUMMER OF 2025. GOALS LEARNED DURING THE WINTER OF 2026 THAT OUR PRIZED "SUMMER OF SERVICE" WILL BE RENEWED AND FORTIFIED BY THE RETURN OF THE AMERICORPS SUMMER ASSOCIATES PROGRAM. WE EXPECT TO RECRUIT ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 TO 30 SUMMER STAFF TO FILL PROGRAM POSITIONS WHICH ARE SERVICE ORIENTED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN LA COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY. DURING THE SUMMER OF '25 WE DID CONDUCT A NUMBER OF PHYSICAL SERVICE PROJECTS WITH LIMITED PARTICIPATION TO CORE GOALS STAFF, ADULT AMERICORPS STAFF SUMMER INTERNS AND A SMALL GROUP OF TEEN GOALS CADETS YOUTH FOR 4 SUMMER WEEKS. WE ALSO HOSTED A MODEST "SPORTS CAMP FOR INCOMING YOUNGSTERS AT AN ADJOINING PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AS WELL. ANOTHER SERVICE ELEMENT THAT WAS SUSTAINED ON A REDUCED BASIS CENTERED ON SEVERAL DAYS EACH SUMMER WEEK TO IMPROVE GOALS FACILITIES AT OUR "DREAMSCAPE" SPORTS VENUES AND TO HELP BUDDY UP WITH OUR "EVERYBODY COUNTS" THERAPEUTIC RECREATION AND GARDENING PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE "DIFFERENTLY ABLED" PARTICIPANTS. GOALS FOR VALCREST: WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT THAT OUR CONTINUED RESTORATION EFFORTS WERE ON-GOING WITH THE HISTORIC CAMP VALCREST SITE IN THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST DURING MANY MONTHS OF THE 2024 THROUGH CLOSE OF 2025 FY. WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH MULTIPLE MOUNTAIN "EXPEDITIONS" WITH GOALS COACHES LEADING THE WAY WITH GROUPS OF OUR YOUTH PARTICIPANTS. FOR MANY, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TIME HIKING AND EXPERIENCING A TRUE FOREST ADVENTURE. GOALS LAUNCHED APPROXIMATELY 20 SUCH EXPEDITIONS AND AN EVEN GREATER NUMBER ARE ANTICIPATED FOR THE UPCOMING 2025_26 FY YEAR. GOALS HAS SUSTAINED AND STRENGTHENED AN EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LA'S RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT AND HAS ALS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 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 March 1994.
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.