Special Ops Survivors advances the mission "to embrace and empower surviving spouses of fallen Special operations heroes to build healthy post-loss futures as they transition and rebuild their new lives." the foundation provides programs specifically designed to a) empower and educate, b) build and enhance resiliency, c) improve health and wellness, d)fund education and career advancement, and e) offer financial assistance for unexpected expenses.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
82¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$95K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2020 · 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 deficit $24K a year · 18% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
82%
of spending
Looks good: 82% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$95K
to officers and key staff · 50% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 50% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $95K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$171K
132% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 132% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$75K
Spent
$189K
To programs
82%
Net assets
−$41K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$75K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$75K
FY2021$102K
FY2022$162K
FY2023$113K
FY2024$318K
FY2025$23K
Expenses
$189K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$189K
FY2021$184K
FY2022$73K
FY2023$152K
FY2024$219K
FY2025$121K
Net assets
−$41K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$41K
FY2021−$123K
FY2022−$34K
FY2023−$73K
FY2024$25K
FY2025−$72K

From the FY2020 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2003.

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

Where the money goes

82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 82% · $154K Management & general 6% · $10K Fundraising 13% · $25K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

12 people listed on the 990; $95K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Di
$95,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Programs Cha
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chairma
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Erik Kramer’s $95K as Executive Di is at the 96th percentile of top reported officer pay among 202 <$100K 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

NameFY2021FY2020
Erik Kramer$95,000$95,000

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 Special Ops Survivors executive salaries →

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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

Supports surviving spouses of fallen special operations personnel with resources and empowerment.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $154K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Group and Individual Emotional Support

Special ops survivors (sos) channels the healing power of bonds so that survivors do not weather their tragedies alone. Spouses have a shared experience as military families operating in special operations communities - lifestyles that can be markedly distinct from more traditional military units.

$139Kprogram expense
02

Special ops survivors empowers surviving spouses with (a) education and career advancement awards to reward them for their strength and resiliency as they pursue additional education to further their careers, and (b) limited amounts of financial assistance to assist them with unexpected expenses: education and career advancement awards…

$15Kprogram expense
03

Other Program Services or Resources

Sos understands that our survivor's lives changed significantly after the loss of their fallen hero and that they face new and demanding challenges. With appropriate funding, we offer additional programs that help surviving spouses alleviate stress, learn coping skills, and to stay healthy in their post-loss journey.

Pt IX · col B

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 · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$95K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 6 grants · $87K · 2020–2022
Unitemized GrantFY2022$18,184
Unitemized GrantFY2022$7,145
Unitemized GrantFY2021$15,146
Unitemized GrantFY2021$13,809
Unitemized GrantFY2020$17,379
Unitemized GrantFY2020$15,231

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$75K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$56K
Other incomeLn 4–11$18K
Investment incomeLn 3$777
Money outPt IX
$189K
Ln 25
Programscol B$154K
Managementcol C$10K
Fundraisingcol D$25K
Owns and owesPt X
−$41K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$113K
Total assetsLn 16$129K
LiabilitiesLn 26$171K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$56K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$158
Investment incomeLn 3$777
Other incomeLn 4–11$18K
Total revenueLn 12$75K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$67K
SavingsLn 2$46K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$113K
Total assetsLn 16$129K
LiabilitiesLn 26$171K
Net assetsLn 32−$41K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 630
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$59K$113K
Total assetsLn 16$87K$129K
LiabilitiesLn 26$14K$171K
Net assetsLn 32$73K−$41K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$33K$33K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$95K$81K$3K$11K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$7K$6K$218$872
Accounting feesLn 11c$6K$3K$849$2K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$28K$19K$4K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$1K$850$205$262
Information technologyLn 14$12K$6K$919$4K
OccupancyLn 16$2K$1K$195$292
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$2K$1K$180$179
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$3K$2K$599$522
Total functional expensesLn 25$189K$154K$10K$25K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $23K$121K−$98K−$72K 990 PDF
FY2024 $318K$219K$98K$25K 990 PDF
FY2023 $113K$152K−$39K−$73K 990 PDF
FY2022 $162K$73K$89K−$34K 990 PDF
FY2021 $102K$184K−$82K−$123K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $75K$189K−$114K−$41K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $74,711 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $217,269$56,283
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,348$777
I-11 Other revenue$17,651
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $218,617$74,711
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $160,680$32,610
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $43,163$102,267
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $75,089$54,027
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $278,932$188,904
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$60,315−$114,193
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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 $74,711 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$158
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$56,125
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$56,283
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $777$777
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$17,651
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $777$74,711
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $188,904 across 11 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $32,610$32,610
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $80,750 · Management $2,850 · Fundraising $11,400$95,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $6,177 · Management $218 · Fundraising $872$7,267
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $2,831 · Management $849 · Fundraising $1,982$5,662
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $18,605 · Management $4,392 · Fundraising $4,651$27,648
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $850 · Management $205 · Fundraising $262$1,317
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $6,223 · Management $919 · Fundraising $4,375$11,517
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,462 · Management $195 · Fundraising $292$1,949
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,427$1,427
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,436 · Management $180 · Fundraising $179$1,795
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,591 · Management $599 · Fundraising $522$2,712
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $153,962 · Management $10,407 · Fundraising $24,535$188,904
Part X · Balance sheet $129,363 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $18,309$67,441
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $40,779$45,889
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $27,764$5,550
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $578$10,483
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $87,430$129,363
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $14,427$15,353
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$155,200
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $14,427$170,553
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $73,003−$41,190
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $73,003−$41,190
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $87,430$129,363
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$41,190 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$74,711
XI-2 Total expenses$188,904
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$114,193
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$73,003
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$41,190

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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