Ball-Out Academy

Overview

Mission

Our mission is to improve the self-esteem, academic achievement, and social competence of youth. To instill an undeniable sense of belief and self-worth so that they become productive individuals who understand the value of giving back and improving the very communities that they call home. As an organization we are committed to providing the youth of Sacramento with a safe space, access to resources vital for personal development, and opportunities that will empower them to accomplish their goals and dreams.

Ball-Out Academy is a Sacramento-based nonprofit that empowers youth—especially youth of color—through mentorship, athletics, education, and community-building. Founded by Kenneth Duncan Jr., the organization provides safe spaces and resources to develop self-esteem, academic achievement, and social competence. Its programs include free weekly H.O.O.P. (Helping Our Own Prosper) basketball sessions with on-court training and healthy meals, after-school supplemental programs, Kings & Queens Rise, Black Boys Build, and Parent Link_Up. Operating across 16+ schools and 7+ neighborhoods, Ball-Out Academy serves over 600 youth annually, guided by core values of legacy, service, discipline, and relationship.

Operating model

Revenue model

Grant-funded. 100% of the money available for current operations came from government grants.

Distribution model

No current program activity. The filing reports no program spending for the current year.

The verdict

MIXED - The filed numbers largely add up and most voting board members are independent. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of total spending goes to programs.

Rating breakdown

• Financial Efficiency: 0
• Transparency & Controls: 90
• Accountability: 63
• Sustainability: 34
• Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Details

• What they do: 12 programs and campaigns described on the official site · 3 operating locations identified
• Where the money goes: 0% of revenue deployed · 0% of spending went to programs
• Governance: 1 of 1 board members independent · 1 of 8 filing controls reported
• Programs: Filed program service accomplishments
• Leadership: top reported pay $26K · 1 people listed
• Consistency: 22 of 24 current checks pass · 2 findings to review
• Schedules: 2 filed schedules
• Filing history: 2 filing years from 2024 to 2025
• Contacts: How to reach this organization
• Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
• Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
• People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

• High — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 0/100.
• High — Financial Efficiency: Program expense ratio scored 0/100.
• High — Accountability: Governance controls: 6 of 7 not reported.
• High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
• High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 5/100.
• Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 42/100.
• Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Fund balance restriction sum did not reconcile in the filed values.
• Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Schedule A contributions reconciliation did not reconcile in the filed values.
• High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 28/100.