Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2016.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
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
8 people listed on the 990; $146K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Sharon Mistretta’s $78K as Executive Director is at the 71st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1992 $100K–1M youth development 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 · 4 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Mistretta | $78,355 | $112,500 | $99,500 | $111,700 | $109,200 |
| Erika Cockerham | — | $12,500 | $12,500 | $12,500 | $11,417 |
| Quentin Cockerham | — | $12,500 | $12,500 | $12,500 | $12,500 |
| Brandon Cockerham | — | — | — | $12,500 | $12,500 |
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 The Light Foundation executive salaries →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 15aYes
Programs and updates
Builds core values in youth and connects them to life-enriching opportunities.
Questions for The Light Foundation
Your first name shows with your question. The Light Foundation answers here, for everyone.
In 2020, the light foundation launched its newest program, light box productions. Light box productions produces original philanthropic creative resources, educational and studio opportunities (including video, brand marketing and virtual messaging, web, event and exhibit creation) to amplify youth-focused initiatives.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 81-3061830) · Dispute this lineRitecare
The light foundation collaborates with the national, state and regional ritecare programs that provide free language and literacy therapy to at risk youth with significant communication challenges.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 81-3061830) · Dispute this lineYouth Development Program
Special program and services for families impacted by covid, along with educational and event support, leadership program development, and income to support services of ST. Louis youth programs
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 81-3061830) · Dispute this lineFunders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2020 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY20 | End FY20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $42K | $90K |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $4.4M | $4.1M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $258K | $212K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $4.8M | $4.5M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $876K | $1.1M |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $3.9M | $3.4M |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $158K | $158K | ||
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $20K | $20K | ||
| Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3 | $0 | |||
| Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4 | $0 | |||
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $130K | $101K | $29K | |
| Pay of disqualified personsLn 6 | $0 | |||
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $153K | $153K | ||
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $0 | |||
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $0 | |||
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $91K | $85K | $6K | |
| Management feesLn 11a | $0 | |||
| Legal feesLn 11b | $11K | $11K | ||
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $5K | $5K | ||
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $0 | |||
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $0 | |||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $17K | $17K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $1K | $1K | ||
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $2K | $2K | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $12K | $199 | $12K | |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $0 | |||
| RoyaltiesLn 15 | $0 | |||
| OccupancyLn 16 | $121K | $91K | $30K | |
| TravelLn 17 | $14K | $11K | $3K | |
| Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18 | $0 | |||
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $0 | |||
| InterestLn 20 | $19K | $19K | ||
| Payments to affiliatesLn 21 | $0 | |||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $93K | $31K | $62K | |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $9K | $5K | $4K | |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $16K | $9K | $7K | |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $872K | $662K | $210K | $0 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 12, 2025 | $491K | $902K | −$411K | $1.9M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS May 13, 2024 | $322K | $1.1M | −$778K | $2.3M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $303K | $1.1M | −$798K | $3.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 10, 2022 | $1.8M | $853K | $898K | $4.5M | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 12, 2021 | $175K | $872K | −$697K | $3.4M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $174,956 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 2 of 7 board members independent, 1 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $174,956 across 9 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $871,967 across 30 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $4,504,698 assets, 31 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,432,161 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file FY2020 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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