Empath Foundation

What it reported doing in 2025

The empath family believes in giving back and creating a better community for future generations with a focus in asd. One of the ways the organization accomplishes this is by hosting events to bring awareness and support. This year, empath for autism began hosting "mom chat" events in partnership with be u bear, bringing together 25 mothers of children with autism for a supportive, community-building experience. The event provided a safe space for participants to share their journeys, access resources, and find emotional support among peers. While mothers engaged in open discussion and a shared meal, respite care is provided for their children. This gathering promotes connection, reduced isolation, and reinforces empath's mission to uplift families navigating an autism diagnosis.circus bizircus lunar, held at the madison theater, was developed and executed as a core program services event, delivering a highly immersive, mission-centered educational experience. The event was intentionally programmed to advance the charitable mission of fostering autism awareness, education, empathy, and support through experiential learning. The core theme of the event, a journey to another world, was developed to illustrate how individuals on the autism spectrum often experience life through sensory perceptions vastly different from neurotypical individuals. Guests were guided through a structured experience map that required them to engage with multi-sensory installations, navigating stations that simulated the challenge of adhering to a "neurotypical" path while managing overwhelming environmental stimuli. This exercise served to mirror the cognitive and sensory demands often placed on individuals with autism as they attempt to conform to societal expectations.to deepen this experiential empathy, we included a silent disco activation. While on the surface a form of entertainment, its true intent was symbolic: in the same room, surrounded by the same people, each participant danced to a completely different auditory experience. This demonstrated the reality that while individuals may share physical space, their sensory experiencesespecially those with autismcan be vastly different.further, the event included an intentionally overstimulating theatrical environment featuring intense lighting, layered sounds, and abstract performancesall designed to simulate how someone on the spectrum may experience everyday settings. Understanding the potential overwhelm, we also created a "sensory speakeasy," a soft-lit, sound-isolated space where guests could decompress. This quiet room served as a tangible metaphor for the importance of sensory regulation and the need for retreat that many in the autism community face daily.a deeply impactful moment occurred when 8-year-old jagger williams, who is on the autism spectrum, was given the stage for unscripted expression. What unfolded was authentic, raw, and beautifuljagger sang, smiled, screamed, and simply was himself. This unscripted moment was a real-life application of our mission: to create a world where individuals with autism can be understood and accepted without conditions.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 46.2%; rating input score 46
• Program expense ratio: 75.8%; rating input score 76
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 98.9%; rating input score 99; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 3 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 43
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 39.3%; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.77; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 41.5% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 47.8% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 40.1% per year; rating input score 100; 94th percentile among comparable filings