Lucky Duck Foundation

What it reported doing in 2025

HOMELESS INITIATIVE: Since 2005, the Foundation has raised funds and awareness for various charitable causes. As the achievements of the Foundation grew, so did its goals. The Foundation recognized the opportunity to concentrate its efforts in one area to make a more substantial impact. The growing homelessness epidemic in San Diego County led the Foundation to focus solely on providing aid and relief for individuals and families living on the streets of San Diego County. Since 2017, the Foundation has concentrated its fundraising efforts on supporting and activating high-impact programs dedicated to alleviating the suffering of homelessness.Year-round fundraising is crucial to the Foundations ability to support homeless outreach, advocacy organizations, supportive programs as well as facilitate the purchase of whatever is necessary to lessen the struggles associated with homelessness. For example, the Foundation created an employment and job training initiative; supported outreach programs linking people to critical services; dedicated resources to actionable research to identify best-in-class strategies; established strategic collaborations to maximize resources, expertise, and outcomes; and more. Additionally, the Foundation has purchased everything from small daily necessities included in the Community Care Kits to large-scale industrial tent structures that serve as shelters.2,300,000+ Meals distributed through our Food & Water outreach initiative to provide lifesaving calories and fresh water to thousands of unsheltered San Diegans while building trust and connecting individuals to critical services.325+ Individuals sheltered nightly in our bridge shelters, offering safe, dignified shelter every night along with case management, supportive services, and pathways toward permanent housing.21,000+ Sleeping bag coats purchased and distributed to unsheltered San Diegans to provide warmth, protection, and lifesaving comfort during cold and rainy nights.225+ Tons of trash removed via our $2 per bag "Cash for Trash program to create cleaner neighborhoods while providing immediate income opportunities that encourage engagement and connect participants to additional resources.2,500+ Individuals employed and job-trained through 25+ programs to help individuals on their path to self-sufficiency.1,000,000+ Pounds of food rescued through our homeless employment collaboration which rescues surplus food that would otherwise go to waste while creating meaningful employment opportunities and providing nutritious meals to those in need.125+ Lucky Duckling high school students participating in our award-winning youth-led movement, inspiring the next generation of compassionate leaders through volunteerism, advocacy, and hands-on service to address homelessness.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 69.4%; rating input score 69
• Program expense ratio: 91.6%; rating input score 92
• Fundraising efficiency: $27.6 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 67; 67th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.8%; rating input score 100; 46th 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 24.2%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.31; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.7%; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 19.2% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 17% per year; rating input score 100; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 21.7% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings