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Nonprofit · EIN 51-0655010

BE AN ELF

Also known as MAKE A CHRISTMAS WISH

Tax-exempt · PLAYA DEL REY, CA 90293

Financials

$93K$60K2024$81K$70K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of BE AN ELF by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$81,364$70,044$11,320$65,865$7,109$58,756
December 31, 2024990$93,163$60,187$32,976$56,643$9,207$47,436
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$81,101
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$263

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$29,408
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$0
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$630
Occupancy
$1,196
Program services (functional)
$49,256
Management and general (functional)
$8,497
Fundraising (functional)
$12,291

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$56,643
Total assets, end of year
$65,865
Total liabilities, end of year
$7,109
Net assets, end of year
$58,756
Gross receipts
$81,364
Employees
0
Volunteers
1,650
Year formed
2009
State of legal domicile
CA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
PATRICK REYNOLDSPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0
ALEXANDRA REYNOLDSSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
STAVROS OLYMPIOSTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 3 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
PATRICK REYNOLDSPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0
ALEXANDRA REYNOLDSSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
STAVROS OLYMPIOSTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
8117 W MANCHESTER AVE 500, PLAYA DEL REY, CA 90293-8211
In care of
% PATRICK REYNOLDS
Mailing address (990-N for 2023)
8117 W Manchester Ave 500, Playa Del Rey CA 90293
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
PATRICK REYNOLDS, 8117 W MANCHESTER AVE 500, PLAYA DEL REY, CA 90293
Principal officer (990-N for 2023)
Patrick C Reynolds, 8117 W Manchester Ave 500, Playa Del Rey CA 90293
Signed the 990
PATRICK REYNOLDS, PRESIDENT
Phone
(310) 880-1111
Return prepared by
CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP

Mission

BE AN ELF'S MISSION IS TO BRING JOY TO UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING AND INSPIRE VOLUNTEERS WITH THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • EVERY DECEMBER THE CHARITY RECRUITS VOLUNTEERS ONLINE, WHO IN TURN ADOPT REAL LETTERS TO SANTA WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. OFTEN THEY ASK ONLY FOR "A WARM COAT", "CHRISTMAS DINNER", "NEW SHOES", OR A NEW TOY. VOLUNTEERS ADOPT LETTERS ONLINE FROM THE US POSTAL SERVICE'S OPERATION SANTA WEBSITE. THE USPS HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTING KIDS' LETTERS TO SANTA EVERY YEAR SINCE 1912. WHILE BE AN ELF IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE USPS, THE CHARITY SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM BY BUILDING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF IT, RECRUITING THOUSANDS OF NEW VOLUNTEERS, OFFERING TIPS FOR VOLUNTEERING AND ADOPTING LETTERS ONLINE, AND PROVIDING LETTER-WRITING SUPPORT TO THOUSANDS OF PARENTS SEEKING HELP. SINCE 2006, GOOGLE HAS AWARDED BE AN ELF AN IN-KIND GRANT OF $10,000 PER MONTH IN FREE ADVERTISING ON GOOGLE ADS.
    Expenses $49,256 · grants $29,408

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990-N on file

IRS record

EIN
51-0655010
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2009
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Human services (P20)
Assets (IRS master file)
$65,865
Income (IRS master file)
$81,364

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$81,364$70,044$65,865XML
990December 2024$93,163$60,187$56,643XML
990-N for 2023
Officer: Patrick C Reynolds
December 31, 2023≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2022
Officer: Patrick C Reynolds
December 31, 2022≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2021
Officer: Patrick Reynolds
December 31, 2021≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2020
Officer: Patrick Reynolds
December 31, 2020≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2019
Officer: Patrick Reynolds
December 31, 2019≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard

990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS.

Questions about BE AN ELF

What is the EIN of BE AN ELF?
The employer identification number (EIN) of BE AN ELF is 51-0655010.
Is BE AN ELF tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2009.
Are donations to BE AN ELF tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does BE AN ELF file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of BE AN ELF due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did BE AN ELF last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of BE AN ELF?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names PATRICK REYNOLDS.
Who are the officers and directors of BE AN ELF?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 3 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does BE AN ELF have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $81,364, expenses of $70,044 and total assets of $65,865 at year end.

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