The Fellows Initiative
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FELLOWS INITIATIVE (TFI) IS A NETWORK OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES. WE SEEK TO INSPIRE AND EQUIP THE EMERGING GENERATION OF LEADERS FOR THE MARKETPLACE, CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
- Income
- $217,365
- Spending
- $216,419
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $78,750, executive director
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: 62 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $90,691 spent. NATIONAL INITIATIVES. TFI ORGANIZES AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR FELLOWS IN THE NETWORK OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. IN 2024-25, APPROXIMATELY 230 FELLOWS PARTICIPATED AS WELL AS 35 LOCAL PROGRAM LEADERS. TFI ALSO MANAGES THE TFI COMMON APPLICATION WHICH ALLOWS STUDENTS TO APPLY FOR UP TO THREE TFI FELLOWS PROGRAMS AT ONE TIME. IN 2024-25, 143 COMMON APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED. FINALLY, TFI ENGAGES IN A NUMBER OF NATIONAL RECRUITING ACTIVITIES TO RAISE AWARENESS OF TFI FELLOWS PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES. IN 2024-25, TFI HOSTED TWO ON-CAMPUS EVENTS AND 15 WEBINARS, MANAGED A COMPREHENSIVE EMAIL AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS OF APPLICATION DEADLINES AND OTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION.
- $29,811 spent. SUPPORT FOR EXISTING FELLOWS PROGRAM LEADERS. EACH YEAR, TFI HOSTS THE ANNUAL TFI LEADERS SUMMIT. IN 2025, THE SUMMIT WAS HELD IN GREENWOOD VILLAGE COLORADO WITH APPROXIMATELY 20 PROGRAM LEADERS IN ATTENDANCE. IN ADDITION, TFI STAFF PROVIDE VARIOUS TYPES OF COACHING AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL PROGRAMS AND THEIR LEADERS - PASTORAL CARE SUPPORT, TRAINING AND COACHING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, DIRECTOR TRANSITION SUPPORT.
- $29,252 spent. NEW PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. TFI HOSTS A SEMI-ANNUAL COME & SEE TRAINING COURSE FOR CHURCHES INTERESTED IN LAUNCHING NEW TFI FELLOWS PROGRAMS. IN 2024-25 APPROXIMATELY 15 PEOPLE FROM EIGHT CHURCHES ATTENDED THE COME & SEE TRAINING COURSES. IN ADDITION, TFI OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE ON-SITE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CHURCHES THAT CHOOSE TO JOIN THE TFI NETWORK. NEW DIRECTOR TRAINING WAS DELIVERED TO THREE CHURCHES IN THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR. FINALLY, TFI PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NEW PROGRAMS IN THE TFI NETOWRK, INCLUDING COACHING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, BEST PRACTICE CONSULTING, AND TRAINING MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 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 December 2006.
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 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.