HELP FOSTER YOUTH
Our IRS & 501(c)(3) Status
Help Foster Youth is a California nonprofit corporation, formed September 25, 2026. We are in the process of applying for federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Tax-deductibility has not yet been confirmed. This page explains exactly where our application stands and how you can check it yourself with the IRS.
Where our application stands
September 25, 2026 — Nonprofit formed
Help Foster Youth became a California nonprofit corporation. This is a state-level step; it is separate from federal tax exemption.
Now — Federal tax ID (EIN)
We have applied for a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) through our filing service. An EIN identifies the organization to the IRS; it does not by itself mean tax-exempt status has been granted.
Next — IRS Form 1023 submission
Our 501(c)(3) application service is included with our filing. We will post the filing date on this page once Form 1023 has actually been submitted to the IRS — we will not list a date before that happens.
After IRS review — Determination letter
If the IRS recognizes us as 501(c)(3), we will receive a determination letter, and our record will appear in the IRS’s public search tool (below). We will update this page and our FAQ the day that happens, and we will state clearly whether donations are tax-deductible at that point.
What IRS Form 1023 is
Form 1023 is the application a nonprofit files with the IRS to be recognized as a federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. It describes our mission, programs, governance and finances. You can read the IRS’s own description of the form on irs.gov.
Where to find our Form 1023 and verify our status
Once the IRS issues a determination letter, our completed Form 1023 becomes a public record. From that point you can:
- Search for Help Foster Youth in the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search (apps.irs.gov), which lists recognized organizations, their determination letters and their filings. The IRS explains what this tool covers on its search-help page.
- Inspect or request a copy of our Form 1023 and determination letter directly from us by emailing info@helpfosteryouth.org.
Until a determination letter is issued, our application is not in any public IRS database. If you search for us today and find nothing, that is expected — it does not mean the application is not in progress. We will update this page the moment our status changes.
What this means for Gift of Hope purchases
Gift of Hope sponsorships are completed through checkout and are not currently represented as tax-deductible charitable contributions, because federal tax-deductibility has not yet been confirmed. See the Gift of Hope page for details.
Questions
If you have questions about our nonprofit status, or you spot something on this page that is out of date, email info@helpfosteryouth.org and we will respond and correct it. Information on this page was last reviewed September 29, 2026, against the IRS pages linked above.