Choosing Our Roots FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Anchorage, AK501(c)(3)Since 2017Civil Rights & AdvocacyEIN 82-3583339Revenue $201K in FY2020

On file with the IRSchoosingourroots.org3905 Carolina Dr Apt 54, 99517-2553 · Anchorage, AKTax-exempt since Apr 2018Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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The mission of Choosing Our Roots is to ensure that all queer Alaskan youth & young adults have access to safe home, supportive communities, and opportunities to thrive.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$5K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $103K a year · 15% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$5K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 11.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$129K
67% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 67% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$201K
Spent
$181K
To programs
84%
Net assets
$64K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$201K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$201K
FY2021$514K
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$810K
FY2024$587K
FY2025$598K
Expenses
$181K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$181K
FY2021$431K
FY2022$612K
FY2023$919K
FY2024$596K
FY2025$622K
Net assets
$64K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$64K
FY2021$148K
FY2022$800K
FY2023$692K
FY2024$684K
FY2025$639K

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · 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 Apr 2018.

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

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $152K Management & general 15% · $27K Fundraising 1% · $2K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $5K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
$4,500Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$175Pt VII · Sec A
$150Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$150Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$125Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$125Pt VII · Sec A
$75Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$75Pt VII · Sec A

Laura Reijns’s $110K as Co-Executive Director Operations is at the 80th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1031 $100K–1M civil rights & advocacy 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2022FY2021FY2020
Laura Reijns$109,931———
Katie McKay Bryson———$4,500
Aria Phillips—$275$200$150
Emily Mercy Bigelow—$225——
Amy Kelley——$200$150
David Clark——$100$175
Lillian Lennon——$150$125
Kaegan Koski—$125——

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.

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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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Provides safe homes, supportive communities, and opportunities for queer Alaskan youth.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $152K · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Housing and Case Management for Lgbtq Homeless Youth

Provided direct services to youth participants, including host home placement, intensive case management, material assistance, and wraparound supports. Ten youth were housed by the program this year, and more than 40 received case management and related interventions.

$127Kprogram expense
02

Advocacy for Homeless LGBTQ Youth within the broader Continuum of Care - the organization continued to offer systemic advocacy and meaningful interventions into community collaborations, in order to increase the prevalence and quality of culturally relevant supports for LGBTQ youth who experience homelessness in Alaska.

$23Kprogram expense
03

Youth Empowerment, Mentorship, and Leadership Development

Stipends ($25/monthly meeting) provided to youth who serve on the organization's Board of Directors. Supported one youth leader in traveling to speak at a statewide conference on housing and homelessness.

$1Kprogram 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
Native MovementFY2025$10K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 6 grants · $146K · 2019–2021
Unitemized GrantFY2021$52,502
Unitemized GrantFY2020$33,411
Unitemized GrantFY2020$17,366
Native MovementAK · FY2020$9,950
Unitemized GrantFY2019$22,858
Unitemized GrantFY2019$10,169

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$201K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$201K
Investment incomeLn 3$44
Money outPt IX
$181K
Ln 25
Programscol B$152K
Managementcol C$27K
Fundraisingcol D$2K
Owns and owesPt X
$64K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$172K
Total assetsLn 16$193K
LiabilitiesLn 26$129K
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$201K
Government grantsLn 1e$59K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$4K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Investment incomeLn 3$44
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$201K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$172K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$172K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Total assetsLn 16$193K
LiabilitiesLn 26$129K
Net assetsLn 32$64K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 660
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$94K$172K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$2K
Total assetsLn 16$97K$193K
LiabilitiesLn 26$53K$129K
Net assetsLn 32$44K$64K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$40K$40K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$5K$5K$0$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$74K$74K$0$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1K$1K$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$4K$4K$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$5K$5K$0$0
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0$0$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$12K$0$12K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$4K$2K$2K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$85$0$85$0
Office expensesLn 13$9K$5K$3K$914
Information technologyLn 14$425$425$0$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$7K$4K$4K$0
TravelLn 17$3K$3K$0$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$645$45$0$600
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$270$0$270$0
InsuranceLn 23$6K$0$6K$0
All other expensesLn 24e$8K$8K$150$175
Total functional expensesLn 25$181K$152K$27K$2K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $598K$622K−$24K$639K 990 PDF
FY2024 $587K$596K−$9K$684K 990 PDF
FY2023 $810K$919K−$109K$692K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.3M$612K$653K$800K 990 PDF
FY2021 $514K$431K$83K$148K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $201K$181K$21K$64K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $201,166 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $132,745$201,122
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $7$44
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $132,752$201,166
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,152$39,873
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $27,482$89,710
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $16,340$50,935
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $44,974$180,518
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $87,778$20,648
Part VI · Governance 11 of 13 board members independent, 4 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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 $201,166 across 14 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$59,170
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$141,952
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$4,284
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$201,122
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $44 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$44
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $44 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$201,166
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $180,518 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $39,873$39,873
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $5,375 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$5,375
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $74,250 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$74,250
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,208 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,208
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,617 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$3,617
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $5,260 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$5,260
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $11,711 · Fundraising $0$11,711
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,250 · Management $2,250 · Fundraising $0$4,500
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $85 · Fundraising $0$85
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,170 · Management $3,007 · Fundraising $914$9,091
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $425 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$425
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,738 · Management $3,738 · Fundraising $0$7,476
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,728 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$2,728
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $45 · Management $0 · Fundraising $600$645
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $270 · Fundraising $0$270
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $5,746 · Fundraising $0$5,746
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $7,933 · Management $150 · Fundraising $175$8,258
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $151,872 · Management $26,957 · Fundraising $1,689$180,518
Part X · Balance sheet $192,911 assets, 22 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $94,247$171,840
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,008$12,136
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$600
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,402$5,906
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$2,429
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $96,657$192,911
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,397$8,553
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $50,624$120,074
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $53,021$128,627
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $43,636$64,284
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $43,636$64,284
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $96,657$192,911
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $64,284 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$201,166
XI-2 Total expenses$180,518
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$20,648
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$43,636
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$64,284

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

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