Senator George J Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The principal purpose of the Mitchell Institute is to provide scholarships and other support to Maine students pursuing higher education. Because of our organization's desire to understand and remove obstacles to achieving a college degree, a related purpose is to engage in research on these issues.
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 134
- Highest pay
- $189,924, president/secretary
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 93% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (1)
- $3.2 million spent. The Senator George J Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute is dedicated to advancing the Senator's mission to increase the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine will aspire to, pursue, and achieve a college education. The Institute works with young people statewide who face uphill battles on their way to college and levels the playing field for them by providing financial resources and a broad range of support. Each year, the Institute awards a scholarship to at least one graduating senior from every public high school in Maine. The Mitchell Institute awarded 200 scholarships in 2025. In addition to the scholarship, the Institute provides support including personal and professional development programming, opportunities for additional funding for internships and study abroad, and access to a network that provides lasting relationships and career advice. The Institute believes every Maine student deserves an opportunity to succeed, and that success positively impacts the Scholar and all Maine communities. The Institute's research documents the college and career experiences of its Scholars, provides evidence of Scholars' success, and evaluates its programs and events to ensure that Mitchell Scholars and Alumni receive effective support.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.