Operation Shoestring exists to invest in the hearts and minds of our children and their families.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
71¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 257 volunteers and 35 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $386K a year · 16% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 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
$211K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
12 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 12.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $31K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$96K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.0M
-47% vs prior year
Spent
$2.0M
To programs
71%
Net assets
$6.9M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$2.0M
FY2025▼ -47%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$2.6M
FY2022$2.2M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$3.7M
FY2025$2.0M
Expenses
$2.0M
FY2025▼ -22%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.6M
FY2025$2.0M
Net assets
$6.9M
FY2025▼ -0.5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$6.0M
FY2022$6.6M
FY2023$5.7M
FY2024$6.9M
FY2025$6.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending July 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1969.

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% · $1.4M Management & general 20% · $407K Fundraising 9% · $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

16 people listed on the 990; $211K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$210,834Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Robert Langford’s $211K as Executive Director is at the 92nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3869 $1–10M 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Robert Langford$210,834$150,889$142,868$129,847$124,639

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 Operation Shoestring 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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Invests in children and families to nurture their hearts and minds.

Questions for Operation Shoestring INC

Tap to ask. Operation Shoestring INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Operation Shoestring INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $1.4M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Project Rise Afterschool and Summer Program

Operation shoestring's project rise afterschool and summer program provided engaging educational, artistic, and social-emotional development activities for 185 pre-kindergarten through 5TH grade students in the academic year, and for 176 pre-kindergarten through 7TH grade students in the summer term.

$911Kprogram expense
02

Community outreachoperation shoestring depends on partnerships with people and organizations throughout our community to provide resources and expertise in support of our services, including those focused on mental and physical health, nutrition, education, community engagement, and more.

$382Kprogram expense
03

Parent and Family Initiatives

Operation shoestring's parent and family initiatives included workshops designed to help the 126 households in our 2024-2025 academic programming year and 137 households during our summer term develop tools and resources that can best help their families realize their own self-determined potential and achieve their goals.

$133Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$31K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $301K · 2023–2023

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$101K
Other incomeLn 4–11$20
Money outPt IX
$2.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.4M
Managementcol C$407K
Fundraisingcol D$186K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M
Total assetsLn 16$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$96K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$420K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$13K
Investment incomeLn 3$101K
Other incomeLn 4–11$20
Gains on assetsLn 7−$6K
Total revenueLn 12$2.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.5M
SavingsLn 2$582K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$353K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.0M
Other assetsLn 15$8K
Total assetsLn 16$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$96K
Net assetsLn 32$6.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 535
VolunteersI 6257
Fiscal year endsHeaderJuly
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.8M$2.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$332K$353K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.8M$4.0M
Total assetsLn 16$7.3M$7.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$383K$96K
Net assetsLn 32$6.9M$6.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$159K$120K$24K$15K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$883K$665K$132K$86K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$20K$12K$6K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$66K$48K$11K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$80K$61K$11K$7K
Accounting feesLn 11c$93K$42K$51K
Investment management feesLn 11f$3K$3K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$100K$61K$25K$14K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$7K$1K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$81K$7K$44K$30K
OccupancyLn 16$119K$82K$37K
TravelLn 17$8K$2K$4K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$177K$150K$27K
InsuranceLn 23$54K$30K$24K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$169K$146K$7K$16K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.0M$1.4M$407K$186K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.0M$2.0M−$42K$6.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.7M$2.6M$1.1M$6.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.3M$2.1M−$829K$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.2M$1.6M$593K$6.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.6M$1.5M$1.1M$6.0M 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 $1,977,093 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,634,207$1,876,522
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $25,645$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $73,947$100,551
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $262$20
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,734,061$1,977,093
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $301,205$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,345,135$1,207,955
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $957,087$810,917
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,603,427$2,018,872
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,130,634−$41,779
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,977,093 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$419,896
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,456,626
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$12,609
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,876,522
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $106,331$106,331
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$5,780−$5,780
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $20$20
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $100,571$1,977,093
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,018,872 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $119,538 · Management $23,789 · Fundraising $15,485$158,812
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $664,892 · Management $132,320 · Fundraising $86,133$883,345
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $11,535 · Management $6,282 · Fundraising $2,100$19,917
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $47,920 · Management $11,340 · Fundraising $7,094$66,354
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $60,647 · Management $11,432 · Fundraising $7,448$79,527
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $42,000 · Management $50,767$92,767
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $3,126$3,126
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $61,223 · Management $25,038 · Fundraising $13,810$100,071
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,488 · Fundraising $5,378$6,866
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $7,054 · Management $44,450 · Fundraising $29,820$81,324
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $81,827 · Management $37,380$119,207
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,719 · Management $3,929 · Fundraising $2,501$8,149
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $150,321 · Management $26,527$176,848
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $30,000 · Management $23,709$53,709
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $146,127 · Management $6,594 · Fundraising $16,129$168,850
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,426,291 · Management $406,683 · Fundraising $185,898$2,018,872
Part X · Balance sheet $6,954,546 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $872,858$1,451,377
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,958,259$582,002
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $338,878$538,199
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $11,299$48,618
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,757,864$3,973,216
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $331,899$353,283
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $7,851$7,851
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,278,908$6,954,546
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $382,912$70,340
X-19 Deferred revenue$26,070
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $382,912$96,410
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,304,218$6,341,270
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $591,778$516,866
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,895,996$6,858,136
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,278,908$6,954,546
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,858,136 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,977,093
XI-2 Total expenses$2,018,872
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$41,779
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,895,996
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$3,919
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,858,136

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.