To find a way to provide dependable educational resources for the youth in the belair-edison neighborhood of baltimore

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 20 volunteers and 1 employee.
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 2
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $60K a year · 21% of revenue · last 2 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 2 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$36K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $65K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$345K
+51% vs prior year
Spent
$269K
To programs
91%
Net assets
$221K
By yearFY2023–FY2025
Revenue
$345K
FY2025▲ +51%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2023$126K
FY2024$228K
FY2025$345K
Expenses
$269K
FY2025▲ +47%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2023Not on file
FY2024$184K
FY2025$269K
Net assets
$221K
FY2025▲ +47%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2023$106K
FY2024$150K
FY2025$221K

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 Feb 2018.

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

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $245K Management & general 9% · $24K

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

8 people listed on the 990; $36K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Founder/President
$19,557Pt VII · Sec A
$16,500Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary/Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michael John JR’s $20K as Founder/President is at the 14th 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.

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

Programs and updates

Provides educational resources and out-of-school programs for youth in Baltimore's Belair-Edison neighborhood.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $93K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

The agoge project's boxing program builds self-discipline, focus, and academic accountability through structured amateur boxing training. The program delivered 529 hours of instruction in 2025, and eight amateur boxers - all in their first year of competition - represented tap in 24 amateur bouts and 3 professional bouts, traveling to a…

$43Kprogram expense
02

The agoge project's grappling program teaches jiu-jitsu and wrestling fundamentals as a pathway into school-affiliated athletics, building discipline, conflict-resolution skills, and physical confidence.

$29Kprogram expense
03

The agoge project's life skills and workforce development programming equips youth with practical, career-oriented competencies through eight rotating workshop tracks: culinary arts, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, sewing, gardening, home care and crafts, comic book creation, multimedia, and an adventure camp.

$21Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
GE FoundationFY2024$180
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$65K
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$345K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$333K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$12K
Money outPt IX
$269K
Ln 25
Programscol B$245K
Managementcol C$24K
Owns and owesPt X
$221K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$214K
Total assetsLn 16$221K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$333K
Government grantsLn 1e$61K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$14K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$12K
Total revenueLn 12$345K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$214K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$214K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6K
Other assetsLn 15$1K
Total assetsLn 16$221K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$221K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 620
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aNo
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$140K$214K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9K$6K
Total assetsLn 16$150K$221K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$150K$221K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$6K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$6K$6K
OccupancyLn 16$15K$15K
TravelLn 17$35$35
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$3K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$236K$217K$18K
All other expensesLn 24e$280$280
Total functional expensesLn 25$269K$245K$24K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $345K$269K$76K$221K 990 PDF
FY2024 $228K$184K$45K$150K 990 PDF
FY2023 $126K$106K 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $345,177 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $200,791$333,177
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $30,846$12,000
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$3,236$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $228,401$345,177
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $0$0
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $183,806$269,469
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $183,806$269,469
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $44,595$75,708
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, 5 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyNo
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $345,177 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$17,246
VIII-1c Fundraising events$13,598
VIII-1e Government grants$61,267
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$241,066
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$333,177
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $12,000$12,000
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $12,000 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$345,177
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $269,469 across 8 lines filed
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $5,650$5,650
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $6,201$6,201
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $15,285$15,285
IX-17 TravelPrograms $35$35
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $3,510$3,510
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,653$2,653
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $217,444 · Management $18,411$235,855
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $280$280
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $245,128 · Management $24,341 · Fundraising $0$269,469
Part X · Balance sheet $221,221 assets, 8 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $139,847$214,465
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $9,266$5,756
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,000$1,000
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $150,113$221,221
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $150,113$221,221
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $150,113$221,221
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $150,113$221,221
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $221,221 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$345,177
XI-2 Total expenses$269,469
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$75,708
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$150,113
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$4,600
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$221,221

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

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