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Maine College Circle

EIN 01-0470496 · Ellsworth, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 21% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO INFORM AND INSPIRE EARLY ASPIRATIONS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO EMPOWER THE YOUTH OF RURAL MAINE COMMUNITIES TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$53,636
Spending
$102,558
Spent on programs
21%
Reserves
89.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
1
Volunteers
70

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 89.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 91% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    21% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $18,050 spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, THE MITCHELL INSTITUTE, LOCAL BUSINESS AND BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS, MAINE COLLEGE CIRCLE TALKED WITH APPROXIMATELY 2,000 RURAL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MAINE (THROUGH 58 FUTURE OF MAINE ASPIRATIONS WORKSHOPS) ABOUT THESE STUDENTS' ASPIRATIONS AND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. WE CELEBRATED AND AWARDED 254 FUTURE OF MAINE COLLEGE ASPIRATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN 25 MAINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THREE ASPIRATIONS FAIRS, ONLINE "CONNECTIONS" BETWEEN RURAL MAINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS, AND WE ARE EXPANDING ASPIRATIONS CIRCLES TO NUTURE EARLY ASPIRATIONS THROUGHOUT GRADES 3-16 AND BEYOND. WE WORKED TO ENGAGE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, IN SUPPORTING EARLY ASPIRATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT DEVELOPING EARLY ASPIRATIONS AND PROMOTING THE VALUE OF EDUATION AND EFFORT ARE THE KEYS TO BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN RURAL MAINE COMMUNITIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, THE MITCHELL INSTITUTE, LOCAL BUSINESS AND BANKS AND CREDIT UNIONS, MAINE COLLEGE CIRCLE TALKED WITH APPROXIMATELY 2,000 RURAL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MAINE (THROUGH 58 FUTURE OF MAINE ASPIRATIONS WORKSHOPS) ABOUT THESE STUDENTS' ASPIRATIONS AND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. WE CELEBRATED AND AWARDED 254 FUTURE OF MAINE COLLEGE ASPIRATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN 25 MAINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THREE ASPIRATIONS FAIRS, ONLINE "CONNECTIONS" BETWEEN RURAL MAINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS, AND WE ARE EXPANDING ASPIRATIONS CIRCLES TO NUTURE EARLY ASPIRATIONS THROUGHOUT GRADES 3-16 AND BEYOND. WE WORKED TO ENGAGE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, IN SUPPORTING EARLY ASPIRATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT DEVELOPING EARLY ASPIRATIONS AND PROMOTING THE VALUE OF EDUATION AND EFFORT ARE THE KEYS TO BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN RURAL MAINE COMMUNITIES.
  2. $3,100 spent. SUPPORTED EDUCATION, ASPIRATIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND RELATED YOUTH PROGRAMS IN ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1992.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.