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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

Operation Gratitude

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
1 7
(818) 960-7878
19748 Dearborn Street
Chatsworth, CA, 91311
https://operationgratitude.com/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Operation Gratitude does not meet the following 2 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 1 (Oversight of Operations and Staff)
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

Operation Gratitude does not meet this Standard because its board of directors does not:

  • Review the performance of the Chief Executive Officer at least once every two years.

Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

Operation Gratitude does not meet this Standard because:

  • The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.

Operation Gratitude meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to honor our military and first responders by providing opportunities for Americans to express their gratitude."

Year, State Incorporated:
2003, CA

Operation Gratitude reports it sends individually addressed care packages to military personnel deployed overseas, to their children left behind, and to first responders, new recruits, veterans, wounded heroes, and their care givers. Each package contains snacks, hygiene products, entertainment, and handmade items, as well as personal letters of support. The organization states it provides hands-on volunteer opportunities through collection drives, letter writing campaigns, craft projects, and care package assembly events.

For the year ended June 30, 2024, Operation Gratitude's program expenses were:

Program services: $13,228,369

Total Program Expenses: $13,228,369

Chief Executive
Meg Barron, Executive Director

Compensation*
$257,499

Chair of the Board
Alan Leach, Esq.

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Assistant Vice President, Executive Claim Director, Chubb

Board Size
10

Paid Staff Size
31

*2025 compensation, as reported by the organization, includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note: Ms. Barron became Executive Director in February 2024. 

Method(s) Used:
Grant proposals, Internet, Radio, Print advertisements

Fundraising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $12,410,075, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Operation Gratitude's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Contributions $6,008,931
In-kind contributions $6,401,144
Investment income, net $533,236
Total Income $12,943,311

Programs: 85% Fundraising: 5% Administrative: 10%

Total Income $12,943,311
Total expenses: $15,572,769
  Program expenses $13,228,369
  Fundraising expenses $836,447
  Administrative expenses $1,507,953
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-2,629,458
Beginning Net Assets $14,559,721
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $11,930,263
Total Liabilities $1,526,070
Total Assets $13,456,333

Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024, Operation Gratitude received in-kind gifts totaling $6,401,144 in the form of contributed inventory ($6,314,126), legal services ($51,754), warehouse space ($29,686), advertising ($3,284), and office supplies ($2,294).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance