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Isd No 197 Educational Foundation

EIN 20-0484389 · Mendota Hts, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS FROM EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS TO GRADE 12 THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.

Income
$107,982
Spending
$81,376
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
62.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 68%
Employees
0
Volunteers
30

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 62.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 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 (5)
  1. $11,380 spent. SOMERSET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED PARTIAL FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PLAYGROUND AT SOMERSET THAT WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH RAMPS, ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND SENSORY PLAY ELEMENTS SO THAT EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITIES, CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
  2. $5,000 spent. DISTRICT WIDE: SPANISH LANGUAGE BOOKS FOR DISTRICT LIBRARIES. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDS TO PURCHASE BOOKS FOR THE LIBRARIES AT ALL GRADE LEVELS IN THE DISTRICT. THE FOCUS WILL BE TO FILL THE GAPS OF NEEDS FOR FIRST-LANGUAGE BOOKS, SUCH AS SPANISH BOOKS FOR STUDENTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS SPANISH.
  3. $5,000 spent. MORELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT UPGRADE. REPLACEMENT OF WORN AND OUTDATED PHYSICAL EDUCATION EQUIPMENT WHICH WILL IMPROVE FUNCTIONALITY AND SAFETY FOR STUDENTS.
  4. $57,014 spent. WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO SUPPORT TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS (GRADES 5-8) WITH DIGITAL PENCILS FOR USE IN REACHING NEW MEDIA ART REQUIREMENTS SET BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STANDARDS. WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO SUPPORT PRE-KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS (AGE 3-5) WITH A VISION SCREENING SYSTEM. WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO UPDATE THE MORELAND ARTS AND HEALTH SCIENCES MAGNET SCHOOL'S LIBRARY AND BY PURCHASING NEW BOOKS, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED UTILIZATION OF THE LIBRARY.
  5. WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO SUPPORT TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS (GRADES 5-8) WITH DIGITAL PENCILS FOR USE IN REACHING NEW MEDIA ART REQUIREMENTS SET BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STANDARDS. WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO SUPPORT PRE-KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS (AGE 3-5) WITH A VISION SCREENING SYSTEM. WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO UPDATE THE MORELAND ARTS AND HEALTH SCIENCES MAGNET SCHOOL'S LIBRARY AND BY PURCHASING NEW BOOKS, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED UTILIZATION OF THE LIBRARY.

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

  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 2025.

    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 November 2005.

    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.