Rods Heroes inspires families to answer the call to adopt a child with special needs or other unique circumstances.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
71¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 100 volunteers and 6 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $83K a year · 13% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
71%
of spending
Fine: 71% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$166K
to officers and key staff · 21% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 21% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $541K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
10
named funders · $429K
Looks good: 10 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3K
0.4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$694K
-3% vs prior year
Spent
$801K
To programs
71%
Net assets
$702K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$694K
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$230K
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$192K
FY2023$651K
FY2024$713K
FY2025$694K
Expenses
$801K
FY2025▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$302K
FY2021$280K
FY2022$346K
FY2023$851K
FY2024$685K
FY2025$801K
Net assets
$702K
FY2025▼ -11%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$43K
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$923K
FY2023$741K
FY2024$784K
FY2025$702K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 2013.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

71 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 71% · $572K Management & general 5% · $43K Fundraising 23% · $186K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $166K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Dir of Devel
$165,697Pt VII · Sec A
President/Fo
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Preside
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Holly Fjeldsted’s $166K as Dir of Devel is at the 98th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2168 $100K–1M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2021FY2020
Holly Fjeldsted$165,697$107,328$102,800——
Alan Fulmer———$16,250$83,077
Michael McKnight———$82,056—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Rods Heroes INC executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Inspires families to adopt children with special needs or unique circumstances.

Questions for Rods Heroes INC

Tap to ask. Rods Heroes INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Rods Heroes INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $572K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Rods heroes creates and distributes inspiring content of children in need of adoption in the hopes of inspiring families to answer the call to adopt. This includes both domestic and international travel to meet the children.

$572Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 10 funders →
Grants paid · 12 grants · $396K · 2020–2025
Gladney Center for AdoptionTX · FY2025$24,000
Worldlinks Intl Adoption AgencyFY2023$15,000
MiscFY2023$12,442
Hand in Hand Intnl Adoption AgencyFY2023$11,780
Holt InternationalFY2022$12,000
MiscFY2022$8,183
Worldlinks Intl Adoption AgencyFY2022$5,500
Reece's Rainbow INCWI · FY2021$61,275
Reece's Rainbow INCWI · FY2020$104,389

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$694K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$690K
Investment incomeLn 3$17K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Money outPt IX
$801K
Ln 25
Programscol B$572K
Managementcol C$43K
Fundraisingcol D$186K
Owns and owesPt X
$702K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$157K
Total assetsLn 16$705K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$690K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$10K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$2K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Investment incomeLn 3$17K
Total revenueLn 12$694K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$157K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$157K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$541K
Total assetsLn 16$705K
LiabilitiesLn 26$3K
Net assetsLn 32$702K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 56
VolunteersI 6100
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$247K$157K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$548K$541K
Total assetsLn 16$794K$705K
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K$3K
Net assetsLn 32$784K$702K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$51K$51K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$453K$304K$5K$144K
Payroll taxesLn 10$39K$22K$787$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$81K$67K$15K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$20K$19K$54$561
Office expensesLn 13$2K$115$263$2K
OccupancyLn 16$6K$108$6K
TravelLn 17$54K$47K$1K$5K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$87K$61K$7K$19K
All other expensesLn 24e$2K$669$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$801K$572K$43K$186K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $694K$801K−$107K$702K 990 PDF
FY2024 $713K$685K$28K$784K 990 PDF
FY2023 $651K$851K−$199K$741K 990 PDF
FY2022 $192K$346K−$154K$923K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.3M$280K$1.0M$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $230K$302K−$71K$43K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $694,033 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $690,479$689,572
I-9 Program service revenue$8,104
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $22,285$17,361
I-11 Other revenue−$21,004
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $712,764$694,033
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $87,352$50,743
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $354,759$491,695
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $243,081$258,691
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $685,192$801,129
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $27,572−$107,096
Part VI · Governance 6 of 7 board members independent, 4 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $694,033 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $1,822 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$2,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$687,572
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$10,373
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$689,572
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Excluded from tax $8,104$8,104
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $17,349 · Excluded from tax $12$17,361
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$22,826−$22,826
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $17,349 · Excluded from tax −$12,888$694,033
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $801,129 across 11 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $50,743$50,743
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $304,365 · Management $4,615 · Fundraising $143,665$452,645
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $22,448 · Management $787 · Fundraising $15,815$39,050
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $66,658 · Management $14,616$81,274
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $19,363 · Management $54 · Fundraising $561$19,978
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $115 · Management $263 · Fundraising $1,770$2,148
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $108 · Management $5,824$5,932
IX-17 TravelPrograms $47,273 · Management $1,290 · Fundraising $5,057$53,620
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $7,043$7,043
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $60,560 · Management $7,332 · Fundraising $18,981$86,873
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $669 · Management $1,154$1,823
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $572,302 · Management $42,978 · Fundraising $185,849$801,129
Part X · Balance sheet $704,840 assets, 8 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $246,550$156,981
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$7,333
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $547,571$540,526
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $794,121$704,840
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $9,666$2,804
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $9,666$2,804
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $784,455$702,036
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $794,121$704,840
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $702,036 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$694,033
XI-2 Total expenses$801,129
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$107,096
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$784,455
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$24,677
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$702,036

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.