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Lee County Educational Foundation

EIN 13-4264393 · Sanford, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE EDUCATION OF K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS IN LEE COUNTY NC PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Income
$383,704
Spending
$156,834
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$4,500, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 108% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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. $125,742 spent. GRANT TO LEE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE MCSWAIN TEAM TEACHING AWARDS. THE TOP TEN TEACHING TEAMS IN THE DISTRICT AT EACH LEVEL/SUBJECT THAT A NC EOG TEST IS GIVEN RECEIVES THE AWARD. OVER 40 TEACHERS RECEIVED MONETARY AWARDS FOR THEIR ROLE ON A WINNING TEAM FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR.
  2. $9,094 spent. THE TSLCTF, SLOAN SCHOLARS, IS AN ATTEMPT TO SUPPORT HOMEGROWN TEACHERS IN LEE COUNTY AND TO ADDRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGES OUR COUNTY, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE STATE, FACES. IT'S A SCHOLARSHIP, IN THE FORM OF A FORGIVABLE LOAN, AVAILABLE TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO ATTEND LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS' HIGH SCHOOLS. THE LOAN WILL BE FORGIVEN AFTER THE CANDIDATES SUCCESSFULLY TEACH IN LCS FOR FOUR YEARS. THE APPLICATION INCLUDES SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS AND AN IN-PERSON INTERVIEW. WINNERS RECEIVE $36,000 OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD TO HELP WITH COLLEGE COSTS. WE CAN AWARD UP TO TWO WINNERS A YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Educational Foundation Inc (Chapel Hill, NC), EIN 56-6058412. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.